7 Ways to Reduce Your Alzheimer’s Risk降低阿尔茨海默病患病风险的七因素

张燕/译

Many cases of Alzheimers disease could potentially be prevented by certain lifestyle measures like quitting smoking and getting more exercise， according to a new report. The findings suggest， but do not prove， that people can take steps to reduce their risk of Alzheimers， a disease that affects more than 33 million people worldwide.

根据一份新的报告，通过生活方式的某些调整，如戒烟和增加运动等，许多例阿尔茨海默病或可预防。该研究结果表明，但并不证明，人们可以采取措施来降低患上阿尔茨海默病的风险，这种疾病影响着全球超过3300万人。

“Given the current absence of disease-modifying treatments， as well as increasing awareness that symptoms develop over many years or even decades， there has been growing interest in identification of effective strategies for prevention of Alzheimers disease，” explained authors of the report， from the University of California， San Francisco. The findings were published online in The Lancet Neurology， a British medical journal.

來自加州大学旧金山分校的报告作者解释道：“鉴于目前缺乏修正治疗该疾病的药物，以及越来越多的人认识到该病症状的发展可能持续很多年甚至几十年，人们对找到预防阿尔茨海默病的有效策略越来越有兴趣。”该研究结果发表在英国医学杂志《柳叶刀-神经病学》网络版上。

For the study， the authors examined the medical literature and identified seven lifestyle factors that may influence the risk of developing Alzheimers. They looked at stopping smoking， increasing physical activity and mental stimulation， controlling blood pressure and diabetes， and managing obesity and depression. Reducing all seven of these risk factors could prevent as many as 3 million cases of Alzheimers worldwide， they estimated.

为了进行这项研究，作者查阅了医学文献并确定了可能会影响阿尔茨海默病发病风险的7种生活方式因素。他们关注的内容包括戒烟、增加体育和脑力锻炼、控制血压和糖尿病，以及控制肥胖和抑郁。他们估计，降低所有这7个方面的风险可预防全球多达300万例阿尔茨海默病。

It is uncertain whether any of these lifestyle factors actually promote the development of Alzheimers. Advancing age and genetics remain the most important risk factors for the disease. But numerous population studies suggest that all may play a role in Alzheimers onset. Heres what they found.

目前还不确定这些生活方式因素是否真会加速阿尔茨海默病的发展。年纪增长和遗传仍然是该病最重要的风险因素。但大量的人口研究显示，下列生活方式因素都可能对阿尔茨海默病的发病起到作用。以下是他们的发现：

Diabetes： Having diabetes has been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimers and other forms of dementia in several studies. More than 10 percent of older Americans have diabetes， so it is important to manage the condition properly， and to take steps to avoid getting diabetes in the first place. Lack of exercise and weight gain can both contribute to diabetes onset.

糖尿病：多项研究表明，患有糖尿病会增加阿尔茨海默病和其他形式痴呆的风险。超过10%的美国老年人患有糖尿病，因此，适当控制病情及一开始就采取措施避免罹患糖尿病非常重要。缺乏运动和体重增加都可能导致糖尿病发病。

High blood pressure： Many studies suggest a link between heart health and brain health. Hypertension in middle age， for example， has consistently been linked to an increased risk for Alzheimers and other forms of dementia in old age. （In old age， on the other hand， low blood pressure has been linked to increased Alzheimers risk.） People who get treated for high blood pressure have also been shown to be less likely to have cognitive problems down the road.

高血压：许多研究显示，心脏健康与大脑健康之间存在联系。例如，中年高血压一直被认为会增加老年患上阿尔茨海默病和其他形式痴呆的风险。（另一方面，老年低血压则与阿尔茨海默病患病风险升高有关。）高血压得到治疗的人后期出现认知障碍的可能性较低。

Obesity： Being overweight in midlife is associated with increased risk of Alzheimers in old age， numerous studies have shown. （In old age， on the other hand， low body weight is associated with increased dementia risk.） Obesity is a particular problem in the United States.

肥胖：多项研究表明，中年体重超重与老年罹患阿尔茨海默病的风险增加相关。（另一方面，老年体重超轻则与痴呆风险增加有关。）肥胖问题在美国尤其突出。

Depression： People with a history of depression have a two-fold increased risk of dementia compared to those who are not depressed. Getting good medical treatment for depression may improve cognitive function in some people. People who are depressed also tend to be socially withdrawn， and social connection has been shown to lower the risk of Alzheimers among seniors.

抑郁：相比没有抑郁症的人，有抑郁病史的人患痴呆的风险增加了一倍。妥善医治抑郁症可能会改善某些人的认知功能。抑郁症患者往往还会比较孤僻，而加强社会交往已被证实可以降低老年人患阿尔茨海默病的风险。

Being sedentary： Physical inactivity has consistently been shown to be linked to an increased risk of Alzheimers disease. And staying active， whether its walking， jogging or ballroom dancing， may lower dementia risk. Healthy but sedentary older people who begin exercise programs show improvements in thinking skills.

久坐不动：缺乏活动一直被证明与阿尔茨海默病的患病风险增加有关。经常运动，无论是散步、慢跑还是跳交谊舞，都可能降低患痴呆的风险。身体健康但久坐不动的老年人开始实施锻炼计划后，思维能力也会有所改善。

Smoking： Recent studies report that smoking increases the risk of Alzheimers. Quitting smoking， in other reports， has been shown to lower the risk of developing dementia.

吸煙：最近的一些研究称，吸烟会增加患阿尔茨海默病的风险。其他研究报告则指出，戒烟已被证明可以降低患痴呆的风险。

Low education levels and lack of mental stimulation： Theres good evidence that few years of formal education may increase the risk of Alzheimers disease. Mental stimulation—whether its doing crossword puzzles， learning a new language or playing a musical instrument—may help lower Alzheimers risk. Its possible that mental stimulation may enhance connections between brain cells and build up so-called brain reserve. As a result， if some brain cells are destroyed by Alzheimers， enough remain to delay the onset of symptoms.

低教育水平及缺乏脑力锻炼：有充分证据表明，接受正规教育的年限少可能会增加患阿尔茨海默病的风险。刺激大脑——无论是做填字游戏、学习一门新语言还是演奏乐器——可能有助于降低阿尔茨海默病的患病风险。刺激大脑有可能增强脑细胞之间的联系，并增加所谓的大脑储备。这样一来，即使部分脑细胞因阿尔茨海默病而受损，剩下的脑细胞仍足以延缓症状的发作。

The authors found that these seven risk factors may contribute to as many as half of Alzheimers disease cases worldwide. The findings are suggestive of lifestyle and health factors that may contribute to Alzheimers disease. Anything that may prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimers in old age could have a dramatic impact on the lives of millions of people and their families.

研究报告的作者发现，全球多达一半的阿尔茨海默病病例可能与以上7种风险因素相关。这些发现表明，生活方式和健康因素可能导致罹患阿尔茨海默病。任何可能预防或延迟老年阿尔茨海默病发病的因素都可能对数百万人及其家庭的生活产生巨大影响。