课程咨询
美国本科留学资料领取

扫码添加助教

免费领取

备考资料大礼包

扫码关注公众号

新SAT必读演讲:神经系统流行病

2016-08-04 17:52:16来源:网络

  This is why it’s happening. The average lifespan’s more than doubled since 1840, and it’s increasing currently at the rate of about five hours every day. And this is why that’s not entirely a good thing: because over the age of 65, your risk of getting Alzheimer’sor Parkinson’s disease will increase exponentially. By 2050, there’ll be about 32 million people in the United States over the age of 80, and unless we do something about it, half of them will have Alzheimer’s disease and three million more will have Parkinson’s disease. Right now, those and other neurologic diseases -- for which we have no cure or prevention -- cost about a third of a trillion dollars a year. It will be well over a trillion dollars by 2050. Alzheimer’s disease starts when a protein that should be folded up properly misfolds into a kind of demented origami.

  So one approach we’re taking is to try to design drugs that function like molecular Scotch tape, to hold the protein into its proper shape. That would keep it from forming the tangles that seem to kill large sections of the brain when they do. Interestingly enough, other neurologic diseases which affect very different parts of the brain also show tangles of misfolded protein, which suggests that the approach might be a general one, and might be used to cure many neurologic diseases, not just Alzheimer’s disease. There’s also a fascinating connection to cancer here, because people with neurologic diseases have a very low incidence of most cancers. And this is a connection that most people aren’t pursuing right now, but which we’re fascinated by. Most of the important and all of the creative work in this area is being funded by private philanthropies. And there’s tremendous scope for additional private help here, because the government has dropped the ball on much of this, I’m afraid.

  In the meantime, while we’re waiting for all these things to happen, here’s what you can do for yourself. If you want to lower your risk of Parkinson’s disease, caffeine is protective to some extent; nobody knows why. Head injuries are bad for you. They lead to Parkinson’s disease. And the Avian Flu is also not a good idea. As far as protecting yourself against Alzheimer’s disease, well, it turns out that fish oil has the effect of reducing your risk for Alzheimer’s disease. You should also keep your blood pressure down, because chronic high blood pressure is the biggest single risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

  It’s also the biggest risk factor for glaucoma, which is just Alzheimer’s disease of the eye. And of course, when it comes to cognitive effects, "use it or lose it" applies, so you want to stay mentally stimulated. But hey, you’re listening to me. So you’ve got that covered. And one final thing. Wish people like me luck, okay? Because the clock is ticking for all of us. Thank you.

SAT水平能力测试【0元免费测试】

本文关键字: 新SAT必读演讲 神经系统

美本留学资料大礼包

微信扫描二维码 回复【美本资料】

机考SATCB官方样题|可汗练习题|AP全科大纲/备考资料包

更多资料
更多>>
更多内容

添加美本助教号

自动领取备考资料大礼包

1. 打开手机微信【扫一扫】,识别上方二维码;
2.添加【美本助教】,自动领取留学备考资料大礼包。

可汗学院新SAT题目完整版

微信扫描下方二维码 即可获取

SAT1500分录播课(旗舰版+1对1) 托福精讲录播课(旗舰版) 托福8-10人直播VIP小班
更多>>
更多公开课>>

2023美本留学资料免费领取

微信添加美本助教

新东方美本助教
更多>>
更多资料

添加新东方在线美本助教号

自动领取备考资料大礼包

1. 打开手机微信【扫一扫】,识别上方二维码;
2.添加【Ella助教】,自动领取留学备考资料大礼包。