首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
For a Sharp Brain, Stimulation There are many phenomena that arouse people’s concern, especially serious diseases. Americans
For a Sharp Brain, Stimulation There are many phenomena that arouse people’s concern, especially serious diseases. Americans
admin
2013-08-22
54
问题
For a Sharp Brain, Stimulation
There are many phenomena that arouse people’s concern, especially serious diseases. Americans may worry about heart disease, stroke and diabetes, but they completely dread Alzheimer’s disease, a recent survey found. For good reason. One in eight adults over 65 is affected by the disease. Those who are spared know they may end up with the burden of caring for a parent or a spouse who is affected. Even though the number of older adults with dementias(痴呆)is rising rapidly, only a few drugs that have been approved to treat symptoms are on the market, and they slow down the disease but do not cure it.
Researchers, however, are more optimistic than ever about the potential of the aging brain, because recent evidence has challenged long-held beliefs by demonstrating that the brain can grow new nerve cells.
"For a long time, we held the assumption that we’re born with all the nerve cells we’re ever going to have, and that the brain is not capable of generating new ones—that once these cells die we’re unable to replace them, " said Molly V. Wagster, chief of the Neuropsychology of Aging branch of the National Institute on Aging. "Those assumptions have been challenged and put by the wayside."
The birth of new nerve cells, she said, "has been shown to occur in the adult—not only in adult rats and monkeys, but also in older adult humans." Most of the areas that show neurogenesis(神经生成)and that have been investigated so far are important for learning and memory, particularly the hippocampus, she added.
So how does one stimulate neurogenesis?
Scientists do not have all the answers, but studies of older people who have maintained their mental acuity provide some clues.They tend to be socially connected, with strong ties to relatives, friends and community. They are often both physically healthy and physically active. And they tend to be engaged in stimulating or intellectually challenging activities.
The big question is whether they remain mentally alert because they engage in these activities, or whether they are able to engage in these activities because they are cognitively intact.
"We don’t know whether this is an example of reverse causation or not—it’s probably a two-way street, " said Bruce S. McEwen.who heads the neuroendocrinology lab at Rockefeller University in New York.
But some interventional studies that have introduced older adults to exercise regimens have reported remarkable results. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign recruited a group of sedentary(久坐的)adults between the ages of 60 and 75, assigning half of them to an aerobic exercise program that met three times a week to walk, while a control group did an aerobic stretching and toning.
The scientists measured the group’s cognitive function before and after the six-month program and found improvements among those who had done the walking.
"Six months of exercise will buy you a 15 to 20 percent improvement in memory, decision-making ability and attention." said Arthur F. Kramer, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois. "It will also buy you increases in the volume of various brain regions in the prefrontal and temporal cortex, and more efficient neuronetworks that support the kind of cognition we examined."
Other studies have found improvements in cognitive function after a combined regimen(养生法)of physical exercise and cognitive training.
But skeptics say there is no guarantee that intellectual stimulation will prevent Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia."Maybe it does, but I don’t think we have a shred of evidence, " said Dr. Robert N. Butler, a psychiatrist and gerontologist who is president of the International Longevity Center-USA. "What it does is maintain good health, " he said, adding, "I don’t think we can go much further than that."
But there is consensus among scientists on a few recommendations for action that, most agree, can not hurt.
Regular physical activity may improve brain function, both by increasing blood flow to the brain and stimulating the production of hormones and nerve growth factors involved in neurogenesis. Animal studies have found that physically active animals have better memories and more cells in their hippocampus. Exercise also plays a role in countering diseases like Type 2 diabetes, which increases the risk of dementia. Cholesterol(胆固醇)and hypertension, which affect vascular health, also need to be kept in check.
Seeking out stimulation through interesting work, volunteer opportunities or continuing education is beneficial. Travel, read, take up a new language or learn to play a musical instrument. Staying socially connected is also associated with brain health, as is managing stress effectively.Chronic stress can lead to the rewiring of areas of the brain that are involved in emotion, memory and decision-making, Dr. McEwen said, "and the brain becomes more biased toward more anxiety, more depression, less flexibility in terms of decision-making and becomes less able to store information."
Most scientists recommend eating a Mediterranean-style diet, including fish and nuts containing omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, olive oil and possibly some red wine.(Blueberries are also recommended.)Some also suggest avoiding playing games like football, because of the risk of head injuries, staying away from pesticides ane insecticides that contain neurotoxins and not drinking excessively.
"Another thing that’s important as people get older is to maintain flexible attitudes and be willing to try new things, " said K. Warner Schaie, who in 1956 started the Seattle Longitudinal Study, which follows the psychologica development of participants through adulthood. "You have to expect things will shift over time and won’t be the same as when you were young. Those who manage to roll with the punches, and enjoy change rather than fighting it, tend to do well."
Some scientists advise older people not to______because they may have their heads injured.
选项
答案
play football
解析
由题干关键词their heads injured可以定位到文章第十七段最后一句:Some also suggest avoiding playinggames like football.because of the risk of head injuries…可知,一些科学家建议老年人不要进行足球这样的体育活动,因为会使头部受伤。因此,本题答案可写为play football。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/d507777K
0
大学英语四级
相关试题推荐
SufferinginsilenceDespitealawdesignedtoprotectthem,manypeoplewithdisablingconditionsareunawareoftheirrigh
Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessayentitledEducationPaysbasedonthestatisticsprovidedinthe
A、15.B、50C、135.D、150C信息明示题。女士说:“我们从原始名单中的150个名字中删去了15个名字。”由此可以推断,参加聚会的人数可能有135(150减15)人,所以C正确。解答本题的关键是crossoff(除去,取消)以及数字fi
Mostworthwhilecareersrequiresomekindofspecializedtraining.Ideally,therefore,thechoiceofan【C1】______shouldbemade
Fallingdownamanholeisnotthebestwaytomakeagoodimpression.OrsoIthoughtbeforecomingtoChina.Oneday,【B1】_____
TOEICistheTestofEnglishforInternationalCommunication.Itmeasuresthe【B1】______ofpeopletocommunicateintheworkplac
TOEICistheTestofEnglishforInternationalCommunication.Itmeasuresthe【B1】______ofpeopletocommunicateintheworkplac
A、Givenbythelocalgovernment.B、Bornbyalargenumberofbitches.C、Boughtfromdifferentcities.D、Capturedovergrassland.
A、Ecologists.B、Industrialists.C、Businessmen.D、Environmentalists.B选项均为职业身份的名词表明,本题针对某类人提问。短文最后提到,自然资源保护论者认为应限制技术的增长,由此可推断出,in
A、Howtoapplynewtechnologytosolvingthepollutionproblem.B、Howtorealizetheseriousenvironmentalproblemsaroundus.C
随机试题
在德育工作中最基本的方法是()。
某糖尿病患者于某日餐前突然感到饥饿难忍、全身无力、心慌、出虚汗,继而神志恍惚,护士立即采取哪项措施
根据《证券市场禁入规定》,违反法律、行政法规或者中国证监会有关规定,行为恶劣、严重扰乱市场秩序、严重损害投资者利益或者在重大违法活动中起主要作用等情节较为严重的,可以对有关责任人员采取()证券市场禁入措施。
关于“可控边际贡献”的计算公式,不正确的有()。
学习迁移就是一种学习对另一种学习的促进。()
假如你是A省B市公安局信访处的一名工作人员,某日一批群众前来上访,为完成工作任务,保障群众利益,领导要求你认真负责此事,面对各种难题,你需要准确解决。有群众反映B市公安局信访渠道不畅,局领导要求你尽快改变这一现状。请问下列选项中哪些措施是有助于信访渠道
传统的过年方式,往往少不了燃放鞭炮烟花,似乎这样才能______年味儿。然而在各地频频遭受“霾”伏之后,越来越多的人开始______环保春节的理念,加入少放或不放烟花爆竹的行列。填入画横线部分最恰当的一项是:
A、 B、 C、 D、 A耦合性是模块间互相连接的紧密程度的度量,取决于各个模块之间接口的复杂度、调用方式以及哪些信息通过接口。【知识拓展】模块的独立程序是评价设计好坏的一个重要标准,衡量软件的模块
某高校为了使学生更好地进行职场定位和职业准备,提高就业能力,该校学工处将于2013年4月29日(星期五)19:30-21:30,在校国际会议中心举办题为“领慧讲堂一一大学生人生规划”就业讲座,特别邀请资深媒体人、著名艺术评论家赵蕈先生担任演讲嘉宾。请根据上
Ihopethereareenoughglassesforeachguesttohave____________.
最新回复
(
0
)