燕山大学 刘立军 编写
TRANSCRIPT
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
Aging is normal. But dementia is not a normal part of aging.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines dementia as an illness marked by a decline in a person's ability to think, reason and understand "beyond what might be expected from normal aging."
It results from a variety of diseases and injuries that affect the brain, such as Alzheimer disease or stroke. About 50 million people around the world have dementia.
WHO experts warn that dementia is a "rapidly growing public health problem." People with dementia are often not able to care for themselves. Their need for care, the WHO adds, creates great economic problems for families and societies. Experts estimate that by the year 2030 caring for people with dementia will cost about $2 trillion (US$) every year.
That is what health experts from the World Health Organization said in a recent statement to the press. They add that there are nearly 10 million new cases every year and that number is set to triple by the year 2050.
How to reduce the risk of getting dementia
As a part of their awareness campaign, the WHO released new guidelines for reducing the risk of getting dementia.
WHO experts say that scientific evidence confirms that what is good for our hearts is also good for our brains. Having an active and healthy lifestyle is the best way to avoid getting dementia as we age.
The WHO guidelines include the following:
exercise regularly
do not smoke
do not drink harmful amounts of alcohol
keep a healthy weight
eat a healthy diet
keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar at healthy levels
The guidelines are common sense advice given by many other health organizations, such as the U.S. National Institute on Aging. But they are important reminders. They can help healthcare providers advise their patients on what they can do to help prevent cognitive decline and dementia.
The new guidelines can also help governments and policy-makers design social programs to help people lead healthy lifestyles. WHO experts add that possibly following a Mediterranean-style diet may help prevent dementia. But they warn against talking vitamin B or E pills, fish oil or other so-called "brain health" pills. They say there is "strong research showing they don't work."
The WHO also advises countries to create support plans to help caregivers.
Dr. Dévora Kestel is Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at the World Health Organization. In a statement to the press, she said that people who care for people with dementia are very often family members. These family members "need to make considerable adjustments to their family and professional lives to care for their loved ones."
And that's the Health and Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.
Adapted from http://www.kekenet.com/broadcast/201906/587172.shtml
VOCABULARY
1. dementia n. (不可数名词) (medical 医) a serious mental disorder caused by brain disease or injury, that affects the ability to think, remember and behave normally 痴呆；精神错乱
2. Alzheimer n. 老年痴呆症
3. stroke n. a sudden serious illness when a blood vessel (= tube) in the brain bursts or is blocked, which can cause death or the loss of the ability to move or to speak clearly 中风。例如：
to have / suffer a stroke患中风
The stroke left him partly paralysed. 他因中风身体局部瘫痪了。
QUESTIONS
Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.
(Q1) Which of the following statements is FALSE about dementia?
(A) It is a normal part of aging.
(B) WHO defines it as an illness marked by a decline in a person's ability to think, reason and understand "beyond what might be expected from normal aging."
(C) It results from a variety of diseases and injuries that affect the brain.
(D) WHO experts warn that it is a "rapidly growing public health problem."
(Q2) According to WHO experts, which of the following statements is TRUE?
(A) Scientific evidence confirms that what is good for our hearts is not necessarily good for our brains.
(B) Having an active and healthy lifestyle is the best way to avoid getting dementia as we age.
(C) Following a Mediterranean-style diet will absolutely help prevent dementia.
(D) The WHO provides financial support to countries to create support plans to help caregivers.
KEY
(Q1) A。细节题。命题出处：(A) Aging is normal. But dementia is not a normal part of aging.
(B) The World Health Organization (WHO) defines dementia as an illness marked by a decline in a person's ability to think, reason and understand "beyond what might be expected from normal aging."
(C) It results from a variety of diseases and injuries that affect the brain, such as Alzheimer disease or stroke. About 50 million people around the world have dementia. (D) WHO experts warn that dementia is a "rapidly growing public health problem." People with dementia are often not able to care for themselves. Their need for care, the WHO adds, creates great economic problems for families and societies. Experts estimate that by the year 2030 caring for people with dementia will cost about $2 trillion (US$) every year.
(Q2) B。推断题。命题出处：(A) WHO experts say that scientific evidence confirms that what is good for our hearts is also good for our brains. (B) Having an active and healthy lifestyle is the best way to avoid getting dementia as we age. … (C) WHO experts add that possibly following a Mediterranean-style diet may help prevent dementia. But they warn against talking vitamin B or E pills, fish oil or other so-called "brain health" pills. They say there is "strong research showing they don't work." (D) The WHO also advises countries to create support plans to help caregivers.