VOA标准英语2011-New Research Focuses on Genetic Clues to

New medical research into a possible cure for Parkinson's disease is focusing on finding biomarkers in patients so that doctors can start treatment early before tremors¹ and other symptoms start. Actor Michael J. Fox's recent commitment of $40 million toward finding a cure for Parkinson's is helping² to fund the new research.

The current clinical diagnosis³ of Parkinson's is based on visible tremors and stiffness of limbs. But researchers say a more comprehensive diagnosis is needed. Dr. Fernando Pagan at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington is the director of the National Parkinson Foundation Center.

"There are not only motor symptoms, which has been traditionally the mainstay since 1817, but now we are looking at the non-motor features and understanding when they come into play," Dr. Pagan said.

Dr. Pagan and other researchers say environmental and genetic⁵ factors could provide clues for diagnosis, treatments and a cure.

They are looking specifically at a biomarker - or a gene⁴ - found in many people with Parkinson's.

"One of the most important genes⁶ that we have found out is LRKK2 gene," he added. "So if we can understand this particular one, we may be able to find a treatment, or a specific cure, for LRKK2."

Dr. Pagan says that up to 40 percent of Parkinson's patients from northern Africa, and some Arab countries, have this gene, and between 11 to 14 percent of patients of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

Dr. Pagan says the LRKK2 gene may help doctors make an early diagnosis of the disease, but he and other experts stress it is not a cure-all, because Parkinson's has many variations.

Right now, the only thing doctors can do is treat the progressively worsening symptoms.

Dr. Pagan has been involved in a series of trials on methods of intervention⁷.

"All three trials showed that a treatment was better than no treatment and the progression of the disease was slower in those who were early treated virus those who received delayed treatments," said Dr. Pagan. "We are clearly learning now that treating Parkinson's from the time we make diagnosis does modify the disease."

Medical researchers say Parkinson's Disease is the second most common degenerative neurological disorder after Alzheimer's with some 10 million people suffering from the disease around the world

1 tremors   

震颤( tremor的名词复数 )； 战栗； 震颤声； 大地的轻微震动

参考例句：

• The story was so terrible that It'sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。
• The story was so terrible that it sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。

2 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。

3 diagnosis   

n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断

参考例句：

• His symptoms gave no obvious pointer to a possible diagnosis.他的症状无法作出明确的诊断。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做一次彻底的调查分析。

4 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

5 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

6 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

7 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。