VOA健康报道2022--运动可减缓记忆力衰退

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Simple Exercise Can Slow Memory Loss

New research suggests that even a simple exercise program might help older people with light, or mild, memory problems.

Doctors have long advised patients to do physical activity to help keep their brains healthy. But the U.S. government-supported research marks the longest study of whether exercise makes any difference once memory starts to decline.

The study

Researchers found around 300 inactive older adults with memory changes called mild cognitive¹ impairment (MCI). MCI is a condition that sometimes comes before Alzheimer's disease.

Half of the older adults did aerobic² exercises, and the rest did stretching and balance movements that raised their heart rates a little.

People in both groups got attention from trainers who worked with them at youth organization centers called YMCAs around the United States. When COVID-19 shut down gyms, the trainers helped the study participants keep moving at home by video calls.

After a year, testing of mental activity showed neither group had worsened, said lead researcher Laura Baker³ of Wake Forest School of Medicine in the state of North Carolina. Brain scans did not show the shrinkage that often goes with worsening memory problems, she said.

By comparison, similar MCI patients in another long-term study of brain health — but without exercise — experienced cognitive, or mental, decline over a year.

The early findings are surprising. But the National Institute on Aging cautioned that tracking non-exercisers in the same study would have offered better evidence.

‘Doable for everybody'

The results suggest "this is doable for everybody" — not just seniors healthy enough to work up a hard sweat, said Baker. She presented the data recently at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference. "Exercise needs to be part of the prevention strategies" for at-risk seniors, she added.

Maria Carrillo is the Alzheimer's Association chief scientific officer. She said earlier research has found regular physical activity of any kind may reduce damaging inflammation and increase blood flow to the brain.

She added that the new study is especially interesting because the COVID-19 pandemic began halfway⁴ through the study. That meant the study participants became socially isolated⁵, or separated from others. Social isolation⁶ has long been known to increase people's risk of memory problems, Carrillo said.

Difficulties of research

It is a difficult time for dementia research. Doctors are not sure about prescribing a high-priced new drug called Aduhelm. The drug is supposed to be the first to slow the progression of Alzheimer's — but it is not yet clear if it really helps patients.

Researchers last month reported another drug that works similarly failed in an important study. It, too, targets amyloid plaques⁸ in the brain.

There is growing urgency to find whether exercise and other steps might offer at least some protection.

How much and what kind of exercise?

In Baker's study, seniors were supposed to get moving for 30 to 45 minutes four times a week. It did not matter whether it was exercise on the treadmill⁹ device or stretching exercises.

Baker believes the social connection with the trainers helped. Each participant completed over 100 hours of exercise.

"We wouldn't have done the exercise on our own," said Doug Maxwell of Verona, Wisconsin, who joined the study with his wife.

The husband and wife, both 81, were assigned to the stretching classes. They felt so good afterward¹⁰ that when the study ended, they bought electric bikes in hopes of even more activity.

Baker suspects that the volume of exercise might explain why even the simple stretching added up to a health benefit. Participants were supposed to exercise without social support for an additional six months. Baker has not studied that data yet.

In addition to the recent study, Baker is leading an even larger study of older adults to see if adding exercise to other steps such as a healthy diet, brain games and social activities may reduce the risk of dementia.

Words in This Story

aerobic –adj. strengthening the heart and lungs by making them work hard for several minutes or more

gym (gymnasium) –n. a building or room for exercise

participant –n. a person who is involved in an activity or study

scan –n. a picture produced a special machine to see inside of something like the human body

strategy –n. a long-term plan

dementia – n. (medical) a mental illness that causes someone to be unable to think clearly or to understand what is real and what is not real

prescribe – v. to officially tell someone to use (a medicine, therapy, diet, etc.) as a remedy or treatment

amyloid plaque⁷ – n. misfolded proteins that form in between nerve cells

benefit – n. a good or helpful result or effect

1 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

2 aerobic   

adj.需氧的，增氧健身法的，有氧的

参考例句：

• Aerobic exercise helps to build up stamina.有氧健身操有助于增强耐力。
• Aerobic dance is conductive to the health.有氧舞蹈有助于健康。

3 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

4 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

5 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

6 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

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 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。

9 treadmill   

n.踏车；单调的工作

参考例句：

• The treadmill has a heart rate monitor.跑步机上有个脉搏监视器。
• Drugs remove man from the treadmill of routine.药物可以使人摆脱日常单调的工作带来的疲劳。

10 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。