HEALTH REPORT - Studies Show Healthy Living May Lower Risk o

HEALTH REPORT - Studies Show Healthy Living May Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
By Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Wednesday, July 20, 2005

 
An image of a brain suffering from Alzheimer's disease 
I'm Shep O'Neal with the VOA Special English Health Report.

Alzheimer's disease slowly destroys memory, thinking and reasoning skills. The risk of developing this brain-wasting condition increases with age. It is usually found in older people, but those with a family history may develop it earlier.

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a progressive loss of brain cells and mental abilities. The Alzheimer's Association says the disease can last from three to twenty years, but the average person dies after eight years.

A new Swedish study estimated the direct costs of Alzheimer's disease and dementia care worldwide in two thousand three. The estimate is one hundred fifty-six thousand million dollars. That was based on an estimate that almost twenty-eight million people have dementia.

An estimated four and one-half million people have Alzheimer's disease in the United States. As the population ages, the Alzheimer's Association says there may be as many as sixteen million cases by two thousand fifty. No cure exists, and the causes are still being studied.

In June, in Washington, D.C., the Alzheimer's Association held its first International Conference on the Prevention of Dementia.

Researchers suggest that healthy ways of living, started early, could reduce the risk of Alzheimer's or delay it. They say it is important to stay socially and mentally active to keep brain cells healthy. Physical exercise and weight control could help, too.

A study found that people with higher levels of education were at lower risk than others. Even good care of the teeth and gums could have an effect, because of a possible link between gum disease and higher risk of Alzheimer's.

Researchers say technologies such as PET scans¹ and magnetic resonance² imaging may be useful in discovering Alzheimer's early. There are several drug treatments being developed. And scientists are exploring other possibilities.

A study reported last week involved some mice genetically³ engineered to develop dementia. Researchers then shut off the genes⁴ that caused it. The mice regained⁵ memory, as shown in their ability to guide their way around. University of Minnesota researcher Karen Ashe says the results came as a surprise. The findings appear in Science magazine.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk.  I'm Shep O'Neal.

1 scans   

n.浏览( scan的名词复数 )；审视；（雷达）（屏面上的）光点v.扫描( scan的第三人称单数 )；细看；细查；（雷达）对…进行扫描

参考例句：

• This apparatus scans patients' brains for tumours. 这台仪器扫描检查病人的脑瘤。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Brain scans have confirmed that the disease is in remission. 脑部扫描已经证实疾病得到了控制。 来自辞典例句

2 resonance   

n.洪亮；共鸣；共振

参考例句：

• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments.一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。
• The areas under the two resonance envelopes are unequal.两个共振峰下面的面积是不相等的。

3 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

4 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

5 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。