VOA慢速英语2017 地中海植物有助治疗脑部疾病（在线收听）

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

这是美国之音英语学习关于健康与生活的报道。

In the future, chemicals from plants found in and around the Mediterranean may be used to help treat people with brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

未来，来自地中海及其周围的植物的化学物质可用于治疗如阿尔茨海默病和帕金森病这样的脑部疾病。

These two diseases are age-related and neurodegenerative. Neurodegenerative relates to the degeneration of nervous tissue, especially the brain.

这两种疾病与年龄相关并且都为神经变性引起的。神经变性牵连神经组织，尤其是脑部神经组织。

People suffering from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's have deposits of sticky plaque in their brains. Over time, this plaque reduces brain function. Eventually, it causes death.

患有阿尔茨海默氏病和帕金森病的人的大脑中有粘性斑块的沉积物。随着时间的增加，这种斑块会削弱大脑功能。最终，造成死亡。

Scientists say plaque can be reduced

科学家说，斑块是可以减少的

But scientists say the plaque deposits can be reduced with chemicals from plants, including prickly pear and brown seaweed. Scientists say the chemicals — or, extracts — appear to replace the harmful, sticky plaque with deposits that are less harmful.

但科学家说，可以用从仙人球和棕色海藻等植物中提取的化学物质来减少沉积的斑块。科学家说，化学品或提取物似乎能用危害较小的沉积物代替有害的粘性斑块。

These scientists are researchers at the University of Malta and the National Center of Scientific Research at the University of Bordeaux.

这些科学家是马耳他大学和波尔多大学国家科学研究中心的研究人员。

They tested the chemical extracts of the plants on a substance called Brewer's yeast. This yeast had plaque deposits similar to those seen in Alzheimer's disease. Scientists say the health of the yeast improved greatly after exposure to the chemical extracts.

他们用一种名为啤酒酵母的物质测试植物的化学提取物。这种酵母和在阿尔茨海默氏病中观察到的斑块沉积物结构相似。科学家说，在注入化学提取物后，酵母的健康状况得到大大改善。

Researchers then tested the extracts in fruit flies that were genetically changed to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's.

然后研究人员在果蝇身上测试提取物。这些果蝇的基因被改变，从而患上阿尔茨海默病的症状。

They found that when the flies were given brown seaweed extract, their lifespans increased by two days. Prickly pear helped the insects live four days longer.

他们发现，当向果蝇注射褐藻提取物时，他们的寿命延长了两天。仙人球的提取物让昆虫多活了四天。

That may not sound like a long time. However, the researchers remind us that one day in the life of a fruit fly is equal to one human year.

这听起来可能很短。然而，研究人员提醒我们，在果蝇的生命中一天等于一个人的一年。

Researchers also noted that movement in some diseased insects improved.

研究人员还指出，一些病虫害有所改善。

They reported their findings in the journal Neuroscience Letters.

他们在《神经科学通讯》杂志上报道了他们的发现。

The best way to fight neurodegenerative diseases

治疗神经退行性疾病的最佳方法

Researchers say that the sticky plaques in both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases appear to form through the same biological pathways. Targeting these pathways, they say, is the best way to fight the diseases.

研究人员说，阿尔茨海默病和帕金森病的粘性斑块似乎通过相同的生物学途径形成。他们说，瞄准这些途径是打击疾病的最好方法。

The lead author of the study is Ruben Cauchi of the University of Malta's Center for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking. He says the Mediterranean plant extracts are already used in health foods and some cosmetics. So, they are very safe.

这项研究的主要作者是马耳他大学分子医学和生物银行中心的鲁本。他说地中海植物提取物已经用于保健食品和一些化妆品中。所以，他们是很安全的。

The research team is working with a company that extracts the chemicals for commercial use as so-called "fountain of youth" products.

研究团队正在与一家公司合作，提取用于商业的化学品，制作“青年之泉”这种产品。

Words in This Story

neurodegenerative – adj. relating to or marked by degeneration of nervous tissue

degeneration – n. deterioration of a tissue or an organ in which its function is diminished or its structure is impaired

extract -– n. a substance that you get from something by using a machine or chemicals

deposit – n. an amount of something (such as sand, snow, or mud) that has formed or been left on a surface or area over a period of time

Brewer’s yeast – n. a yeast used or suitable for use in brewing; also : the dried ground-up cells of such a yeast used as a source of the vitamin B complex

plaque – n. medical : a change in brain tissue that occurs in Alzheimer's disease : medical : a harmful material that can form in arteries and be a cause of heart disease

exposure – n. the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something : the condition of being exposed to something

extract -– v. to get (a substance) from something by the use of a machine or chemicals