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A study published in Neurology has found that the simple act of walking may improve memory in old age. As we age, our brains shrink and the shrinkage is associated with dementia and loss of cognitive functions such as memory. To test whether physical activity could mitigate some of these degenerative effects, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh tracked the physical activity of 299 healthy men and women with an average age of 78. The participants' activity ranged anywhere from walking 0 blocks to 300 blocks (up to 30 miles) per week.
一個(gè)來(lái)自神經(jīng)學(xué)的研究表明，步行這樣的簡(jiǎn)單行為可能增強(qiáng)老年人的記憶。當(dāng)我們變老時(shí)，我們的大腦會(huì)萎縮，而這種萎縮會(huì)帶來(lái)癡呆和認(rèn)知能力的喪失，例如記憶。為了測(cè)試身體活動(dòng)是否會(huì)減輕某些衰退現(xiàn)象，匹茲堡大學(xué)的研究人員跟蹤觀察了299名平均年齡在78歲的健康男女的身體活動(dòng)。自愿參加調(diào)查者的活動(dòng)范圍為步行0街區(qū)到300街區(qū)（最多30英里）每周。
The findings are in line with past studies linking physical activity with brain function, but dementia experts say there's not enough data yet to prescribe exercise to prevent memory loss. It's also too soon to say whether exercise may prevent dementia or simply delay it in people who would eventually develop it anyway. But when it comes to Alzheimer's, even a short delay could mean great gains in quality of life. MSNBC reports:
這個(gè)發(fā)現(xiàn)與早先的一些身體活動(dòng)和腦功能之間關(guān)聯(lián)的研究是一致的，但是癡呆專(zhuān)家認(rèn)為現(xiàn)在還沒(méi)有足夠的資料說(shuō)明可以通過(guò)指導(dǎo)運(yùn)動(dòng)來(lái)阻止記憶的衰退。同時(shí)，現(xiàn)在就斷定對(duì)于最終會(huì)罹患癡呆的人，運(yùn)動(dòng)是否能起到阻止或者單純的延緩作用，還為時(shí)過(guò)早。但是，對(duì)于老年癡呆癥， 哪怕是一個(gè)很小的延緩也意味著生活質(zhì)量的巨大提高。MSNBC報(bào)道說(shuō)：
"Even if we are delaying [Alzheimer's disease] by several months or years, that's a significant improvement in what we know already, and a change in costs for treating health care," [study author Kirk] Erickson said. Delaying the condition could also ease the emotional burden and problems that come along with it, for both patients and their families, he said.
”即使我們只能延遲老年癡呆癥幾個(gè)月或者幾年，都是在我們現(xiàn)有基礎(chǔ)上的一個(gè)明顯的進(jìn)步，也是對(duì)于治療健康問(wèn)題所需花費(fèi)的一個(gè)改變?！癧研究作者Kirk]Erickson 這樣說(shuō)道。他同時(shí)指出，延遲這種狀況也可以減輕患者和其家人的情緒負(fù)擔(dān)以及由此引發(fā)的一系列問(wèn)題。
