歌词
From VOA Learning English,
这是来自美国之声英语学习
this is the Health Report.
这是一个健康报道
New research suggests
新的研究发现
that speaking more than one language
说多种语言
may delay different kinds of dementia,
可能会延缓不同类型的痴呆
that is the lost of mental ability.
也就是心智能力的丧失
In fact, researchers say,
实际上研究者说
speaking two languages
讲两门语言似乎比
appears to be more important
教育水平
than the level of education
更能
in defending against dementias.
预防痴呆症
A study in India examined the effect
在印度的一项研究检验了这种影响
of knowing more than one language
懂得多种语言
in delaying the first signs of several disorders,
推迟了一些疾病的最初症状
these included Alzheimer's disease,
包括老年痴呆症
frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia,
额颞叶痴呆，血管性痴呆
Lewy bodies dementia and mixed dementias.
路易体痴呆和混合性痴呆
Researchers studied nearly 650 people
研究人员对近650人进行了研究
whose average age was 66.
他们的平均年龄是66岁
240 of those studied suffered from Alzheimer's,
其中240人患有老年痴呆症
the most common form of mental decline.
这是最常见的精神衰退形式
391 of the subjects spoke two or more languages.
让391名受试者说两种或两种以上的语言
Investigators found the dementias began about
调查人员发现
four-and-a-half years later in those who were bilingual
与那些只说一种语言的人相比
compared to those who spoke only one language.
双语者痴呆症病情首次出现要晚四年半
The level of education had no effect
教育水平对痴呆
on the age at the first sign of dementia.
首次发作没有影响
Thomas Bak helped to organise the study.
托马斯·贝克帮助组织了这项研究
He is with the Center of Cognitive Aging
他任职于苏格兰爱丁堡大学
at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
认知老化的中心
He suggests that individuals
他建议个人 他表明
who speak more than one language
能说多种语言的个人
train their brains by moving back and forth
通过在不同词语和表达之间
between different words and expressions.
来回训练他们的大脑
Mr Bok believes this effort improves
Bak认为这种行为改善了
what scientists called executive functioning
科学家所谓的执行功能
or attention to tasks,
也就是对任务的关注度
this mental ability often weakens in people with dementias.
痴呆症患者的这种心理能力通常会变弱
Researchers found there was no extra gain
研究者发现讲两门以上语言
in speaking more than two languages.
没有其他的益处
They also did not see a delay
他们并没有发现
in the first signs of Lewy bodies dementia,
和路易体痴呆首次出现的延迟
the disorder causes patients to see
这种疾病能使病人看到
or experience things that do not real exist.
或经历根本不存在的东西
They can also cause sufferers to move back and forth
他们还会出现幻觉
between being wide awake and really sleeping.
在清醒和沉睡之间交替着
Mr Bak says it does not appear important
Bak说，年轻还是老年时
whether you learn a language at a young age or later in life.
去学习语言并不重要
"So it's not something you sort of say that
并不是说
'[if] you missed the boat when you do not do it as a baby.'
年轻时错过这个机会以后就没有了
It is something that is still quite useful
即使是成年后学习语言
and powerful when you do it as an adult," he said.
仍然很有用很重要
Scientists found that speaking more than one language
科学家发现讲一门以上语言
help delay the first signs of dementias,
能帮助延迟患上痴呆症
even in those who could not read.
即使对那些不识字的人来说也是如此
An article on the benefits of bilingualism on dementias
有关双语对痴呆症益处的文章
was published this month in the journal Neurology.
本月发表在杂志《神经学》上
And that is the VOA Health Report from VOA Learning English.
这里是美国之音慢速英语健康报道
专辑信息