2006年VOA标准英语-Exercise May Reduce Chance of Developing D

By Carol Pearson
Washington, DC
19 January 2006
 
watch Dementia Exercise report

Experts estimate that more than 24 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, a loss of mental functions including memory and ability to reason.  But there may be a way to reduce the chance of developing this disease.  VOA's Jim Bertel has more.

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Normal brain scan and brain scan indicating Alzheimer's  
  

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease.  There is no cure, and experts predict the number of cases of dementia will increase drastically in the coming decades, especially in developing countries.  Although the sufferers are mostly elderly, research shows dementia is not an inevitable¹ part of aging.

Participants in a new study who exercised at least three times a week were nearly 40 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who did not exercise.  The lead researcher is Dr. Eric Larson says “the decline the brain experiences late in life is not inevitable.  It can be affected² by things like habitual³ exercise."

  
  
All volunteers for the study were 65 and over and were subjected to memory tests.  Warren Raymond was one of more than 1,700 volunteers says the exercise has helped him. "It has not always been easy for me to exercise.  I'm just determined⁴ to do it. It enhances my self-esteem, improves my physical conditioning..."

In the study, exercise was anything from simple stretching to more vigorous activities such as swimming, walking, hiking, calisthenics, and weight training.  Dr. Larson says those who benefited the most were the frailest⁵ participants.

 
Dr. Eric Larson
  
But regular exercise is not a guarantee to ward⁶ off dementia.  During the six-year study, 158 of the participants developed dementia, but Dr. Larson says the exercise may slow the progression of this disease. 

Many other experts agree saying the link between exercise and dementia makes sense and is consistent with other studies.  They say exercise increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, and it may reduce the "plaque⁷" in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease. 

One study involving mice compared the brains of mice put on a running wheel to those of sedentary mice.  It found the plaque, the large white spots seen in this photo was about a third less in the mice that exercised.  

Dr. Ron Peterson  
  
Dr. Ron Peterson directs Alzheimer's Research at the Mayo Clinic, says there is a correlation⁸. "This lends some actual physiological⁹ support that there might be a direct mechanism¹⁰ between exercise and the development of plaques¹¹."

Experts hope more research will show if the kind of exercise, the intensity and the duration has any effect on slowing the progression or reducing the cases of dementia

1 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 habitual   

adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的

参考例句：

• He is a habitual criminal.他是一个惯犯。
• They are habitual visitors to our house.他们是我家的常客。

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

5 frailest   

脆弱的( frail的最高级 )； 易损的； 易碎的

参考例句：

6 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

7 plaque   

n.饰板，匾，(医)血小板

参考例句：

• There is a commemorative plaque to the artist in the village hall.村公所里有一块纪念该艺术家的牌匾。
• Some Latin words were engraved on the plaque. 牌匾上刻着些拉丁文。

8 correlation   

n.相互关系，相关，关连

参考例句：

• The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first.第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。
• A high correlation exists in America between education and economic position.教育和经济地位在美国有极密切的关系。

9 physiological   

adj.生理学的，生理学上的

参考例句：

• He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
• Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。

10 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

11 plaques   

（纪念性的）匾牌( plaque的名词复数 )； 纪念匾； 牙斑； 空斑

参考例句：

• Primary plaques were detectable in 16 to 20 hours. 在16到20小时内可查出原发溶斑。
• The gondoliers wore green and white livery and silver plaques on their chests. 船夫们穿着白绿两色的制服，胸前别着银质徽章。