万花筒 2009-10-02&10-03 健身游戏潜力无穷

Japan's longevity¹ and affluence² have resulted in a huge market for products that claim to re-energize the brain. Nintendo's brain training games tested players' speed and accuracy with word, number and memory puzzles, so attracted many older gamers concerned about nerve degenerative diseases, like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Now studies haven't been able to link braining programs to a slow progression of Alzheimer's, but here is something interesting. Recent studies suggest Nintendo's Wii Fit games can help lose symptoms of Parkinson's, a disease which impairs³ motor skills. The game’s console simulates sports like soccer, there's a category which tests your balance with sports like ski slalom and ski jump. hula hoop⁴ challenges you aerobically⁵ and a strength training category has you doing push-ups and side planks⁶ with the virtual personal trainer. And doctors at Medical College of Georgia, the United States piloted the eight-week-study. 20 Parkinson's suffers spend an hour on the Wii three times a week for four weeks.

They play games requiring bilateral⁷ movement, balance at a pretty fast pace. Half way through the study, scientists found a number of the patients could defeat their opponent in the first round and they showed significant improvement in movement, fine motor skills and energy levels. The games require visual perception, eye-hand coordination⁸ and sequence movement. So the scientists consider it a treatment tool in occupational therapy.

1 longevity   

n.长命；长寿

参考例句：

• Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
• Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。

2 affluence   

n.充裕，富足

参考例句：

• Their affluence is more apparent than real.他们的富有是虚有其表。
• There is a lot of affluence in this part of the state because it has many businesses.这个州的这一部分相当富有，因为它有很多商行。

3 impairs   

v.损害，削弱( impair的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Smoking impairs our health. 吸烟会损害我们的健康。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Almost anything that impairs liver function can cause hepatitis. 任何有损于肝功能的因素，几乎都会引起肝炎。 来自辞典例句

4 hoop   

n.（篮球）篮圈，篮

参考例句：

• The child was rolling a hoop.那个孩子在滚铁环。
• The wooden tub is fitted with the iron hoop.木盆都用铁箍箍紧。

5 aerobically   

adv.aerobic（需氧的，需气的，生存于氧气中的）的变形

参考例句：

• Nitrate was aerobically reduced to nitrite. 硝酸盐去氧后转化为亚硝酸盐。 来自互联网
• The main thing is to pick something you can aerobically, and do it! 重要的是挑个有氧活动，并且去做！ 来自互联网

6 planks   

（厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点

参考例句：

• The house was built solidly of rough wooden planks. 这房子是用粗木板牢固地建造的。
• We sawed the log into planks. 我们把木头锯成了木板。

7 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

8 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。