VOA慢速英语:Bilingualism May Delay Different Kinds of Dementia

New research suggests that speaking more than one language may delay different kinds of dementia, that is the lost of mental ability. In fact, researchers say, speaking two languages appears to be more important than the level of education in defending against dementias.
新的研究表明，讲一种以上的语言可能会延迟患上各种痴呆症，痴呆症是指心智能力的缺失。事实上，研究人员说，讲两种语言在对抗痴呆上似乎比教育程度更重要。

A study in India examined the effect of knowing more than one language in delaying the first signs of several disorders, these included Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, Lewy bodies dementia and mixed dementias. Researchers studied nearly 650 people whose average age was 66. 240 of those studied suffered from Alzheimer's, the most common form of mental decline.
印度的一项研究专门考察了懂多种语言在延迟患上几种疾病上的影响，这些疾病包括阿尔茨海默氏病、额颞叶痴呆，血管性痴呆，路易体痴呆和混合性痴呆。研究人员研究了近650人，他们的平均年龄是66岁，其中240人患有阿尔茨海默氏病，这是智力下降的最常见病症。

391 of the subjects spoke two or more languages. Investigators found the dementias began about four-and-a-half years later in those who were bilingual compared to those who spoke only one language. The level of education had no effect on the age at the first sign of dementia.
其中391位研究对象讲两种或多种语言。研究者发现，双语者在患上痴呆症的时间上比那些只会一门语言的人晚4年半。教育水平对患上痴呆症的年龄没有影响。

Thomas Bak helped to organise the study. He is with the Center of Cognitive Aging at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He suggests that individuals who speak more than one language train their brains by moving back and forth between different words and expressions.
Thomas Bak帮助组织了这项研究。他就职于苏格兰爱丁堡大学的认知老化中心。他认为，会讲多于一种语言的人通过在不同单词和短语之间来回切换锻炼了他们的大脑。

Mr Bok believes this effort improves what scientists called executive functioning or attention to tasks, this mental ability often weakens in people with dementias.
Bok先生认为，这一功能改善了科学家们所谓的大脑执行功能，这种心智能力在痴呆者身上通常开始减弱。

Researchers found there was no extra gain in speaking more than two languages. They also did not see a delay in the first signs of Lewy bodies dementia, the disorder causes patients to see or experience things that do not real exist. They can also cause sufferers to move back and forth between being wide awake and really sleeping.
研究人员发现，讲两种以上的语言并没有额外的好处。他们还没有发现讲多种语言在患上路易体痴呆有延迟作用，这种疾病会导致患者产生幻觉，还能导致患者在清醒和沉睡之间切换。

Mr Bok says it does not appear important whether you learn a language at a young age or later in life.
Bok先生说，不管是在年少还是年老时学习一门语言显得并不重要。

"So it's not something you sort of say that '[if] you missed the boat when you do not do it as a baby.' It is something that is still quite useful and powerful when you do it as an adult," he said.
他说，“所以在这件事上别说什么‘年少时错过机会。’你成年以后再学也一样很有用。”

Scientists found that speaking more than one language help delay the first signs of dementias, even in those who could not read.
科学家发现，讲超过一种语言有助于延缓患上痴呆症，即使是无法阅读。

An article on the benefits of bilingualism on dementias was published this month in the journal Neurology.
一篇关于双语对痴呆症好处的论文发表在了本月的《神经学》杂志上。