万花筒 2010-10-21&10-22 推迟退休延缓大脑衰老？

In the battle against those senior moments, the Americans have turned everything from crosswords¹ to Sudoku, but there is a new report out that finds that it could boil down that old injunction. Maybe it's really better to wear-out than rest-out. Deberol Roberts has more.
At a time when many of his friends have long retired², Dan Morgenstern wouldn't think of it. --It's something that I still enjoy doing. And that's why I am still here. For the past 34 years, he's been at work, running a Jazz music institute at Rutgers University. Morgenstern is 80 years old. --I am absolutely certain that continuing to work is helping³ me to keep my mind alert⁴. He may be onto something . A new analysis suggests that putting off retirement⁵ and working longer in life with all of its mental work place vigors may keep your brain sharp. Playing a daily game of chess may not be enough. --The big difference here is that people spend thousands of hours at work and work can be a very powerful environment.
The economic professors behind it all looked into 20 years worth of data involving thousands of aging people from the US and 11 other countries. All were given a simple memory test and Americans who tend to retire latter in life scored highest.
They don't know what it is about work. Is it the job you do or the social interaction that's helping? Some scientists though are convinced they want more data but they say it is a persuasive⁶ argument for the old adage:use it or lose it. Deberol Roberts, ABC News, New York.

1 crosswords   

纵横填字谜( crossword的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Doing crosswords gives the mind some exercise. 做纵横字谜游戏能锻炼脑筋。
• He spends all his time on crosswords and other trifles. 他把所有的时间都用在做纵横填字游戏和其他无聊的活动上。

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 alert   

adj.机警的，活泼的，机灵的；vt.使...警觉

参考例句：

• Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals.驾驶员必须密切注意交通信号。
• The rabbIt'seems to be very alert all its life.兔子似乎一生都小心翼翼，十分警觉。

5 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

6 persuasive   

adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的

参考例句：

• His arguments in favour of a new school are very persuasive.他赞成办一座新学校的理由很有说服力。
• The evidence was not really persuasive enough.证据并不是太有说服力。