VOA常速英语2007-Researchers On Verge of Blood Test For Alzheimer

By Jessica Berman
Washington
14 October 2007

An international team of scientists say they are on the verge¹ of developing the first blood test for Alzheimer's disease which experts hope will help doctors identify patients with the memory-robbing disease in its earliest stages. Experts say the blood test identifies proteins that are unique to people with Alzheimer's and appear years before there are major symptoms. VOA's Jessica Berman reports.

One of the early signs of Alzheimer's disease is forgetfulness. But it can be caused by a number of benign² conditions, including aging itself.

The first place most families take their elderly relative for evaluation³ is not an expert neurologist, according to Todd Golde, a professor of neuroscience at the Mayor Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, but the family physician.

"And for those people, the diagnosis⁴, and an accurate diagnosis, is a challenge," said Todd Golde. "And so I think that would bring a more uniform and consistent diagnosis to across a wider section of people receiving care for Alzheimer's."

Researchers in the United States, Germany and Sweden are working on a blood test, which they describe in the latest issue of of the journal, Nature Medicine.

Using computer analysis, investigators⁵ identified 18 proteins that the body uses to communicate with immune and nervous system cells. Researchers compared the proteins in healthy individuals to those with advanced Alzheimer's.

The test was 90 percent accurate in diagnosing the disease in its early stages.

Tony Wyss-Coray, professor of medicine at Stanford University and the report's senior author, says more research is needed to confirm the study's findings. But he believes a blood test may soon be available that could help doctors make a complex diagnosis.

"This might be feasible in a relatively⁶ short period of time to have actually a blood test that can at least help in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and may even be able predict whether a person will develop it if they have memory complaints right now," said Tony Wyss-Coray.

Experts say such information would mean patients would be able to begin early therapy to delay the decline of Alzheimer's, and help families prepare for the devastation⁷ of a progressive and fatal illness.

Wyss-Coray is scientific advisor⁸ of Satoris Group in San Francisco, California which he founded to develop and market an Alzheimer's test kit⁹, when one becomes reliable. Todd Golde of the Mayo Clinic is an advisor to Satoris and has a financial interest in the company.

1 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

2 benign   

adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的

参考例句：

• The benign weather brought North America a bumper crop.温和的气候给北美带来大丰收。
• Martha is a benign old lady.玛莎是个仁慈的老妇人。

3 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

4 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。

5 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

7 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

9 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。