牙齿和眼睛不健康的人更易老年痴呆

Going to the dentist, having your eyes tested and trying to avoid coughs and colds could help prevent dementia, claim scientists. 科学家指出，看牙医、检查眼睛、尽量避免咳嗽和感冒可预防痴呆。

They say regular check-ups and staying as healthy and active as possible lessen the chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease and similar conditions in later life.

他们指出，常规体检并尽可能保持健康和积极的心态可降低以后患老年痴呆症和相同症状的可能性。

Researchers have identified a range of illnesses, aches and pains that all increase the risk of the condition including arthritis, poor eyesight, broken bones and even badly fitting dentures.

研究人员已检验出一系列的疾病、疼痛不适等都会增加患病的风险，例如关节炎，近视，骨折，不适合装假牙等。

Although on their own, the complaints would only increase the risk very slightly, someone suffering a range of health problems could be twice as likely to get dementia.

尽管自身疾病增加患病的风险很低，有些人遇到健康问题而患老年痴呆的几率是两倍。

Canadian scientists looked at how eyesight, hearing, arthritis, coughs and colds, dental problems, diabetes and high blood pressure affected a person’s chances of developing Alzheimer’s and related conditions.

加拿大科学家观察视力、听力、关节炎、咳嗽、感冒、牙齿问题、糖尿病和高血压是如何影响一个人患老年痴呆及相关病症的几率的。

They claimed that a normal, healthy person has an 18 percent chance of getting the disease at some point in their life.

他们指出一个正常健康的人在他的一生中的某个阶段患这种病的几率是18%。

But this risk goes up by 3.2 percent for every illness or complaint that affected them.

但当他们患病或并发症时这种几率会增加3.2%。

The findings published in the journal Neurology are further evidence that a healthy lifestyle may help prevent dementia.

发表在神经学期刊上的研究进一步证实了健康的生活方式可预防老年痴呆。

Previous research has shown high cholesterol, heart problems, obesity and smoking all increase the risk.

之前的研究表明高胆固醇、心脏病、肥胖症和吸烟都会增加患病风险。

Scientists believe that the condition may be triggered by poor circulation to the brain which causes damage to blood vessels and cells.

科学家认为引发的条件可能是由于大脑的血液循环不良造成血管和细胞受损。

But experts say that although some complaints such as arthritis, poor eyesight and hearing were unavoidable, regular trips to the doctor and dentist could help lessen the risk of dementia.

但是专家说，有些症状例如关节炎、近视和听力问题是不可避免的，定期去看医生和牙医可能有助于减少患老年痴呆症的风险。

Dr Marie Jackson said: ‘We know that people with reduced fitness and reduced mobility are significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

Marie Jackson博士说，“我们知道身体不健康或减少流动性的人明显更有可能换老年痴呆。

‘So it’s very important to try and maintain fitness and health at whatever standard you are able.’

因此，无论在哪种水平试图保持健美的身体和健康是非常重要的。

Rebecca Wood, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: ‘This large study has turned up some intriguing and unexpected results, and it will be important to see whether follow-up studies have similar findings.

英国老年痴呆研究者Rebecca Wood说，“这次大型研究出现了一些负责和未预料的结果，这对于观察后期研究是否有类似结果是很重要的。”