劍橋大學的研究人員發現，在冷水中游泳可以保護大腦免受失智癥等退行性疾病的傷害。研究人員在一些經常參加戶外冬泳的人血液中發現了一種 “冷休克（cold-shock）” 蛋白，此發現屬世界首次。

The team has already shown that the protein can slow the onset of dementia in mice and even repair some of the damage it causes.

研究小組已經證明，這種蛋白質可以減緩老鼠癡呆癥的發作，甚至可以修復因癡呆造成的一些損傷。

The researchers say exposure to cold activates a latent hibernation ability human beings appear to retain. But they say don't go and jump in a cold river hoping to reduce your dementia risk - swimming in cold water can be dangerous for those not accustomed to it.

研究人員說，寒冷的環境可以激活一種人類似乎保留著的潛在冬眠能力。但是他們說不要跳進冰冷的河里，希望這樣可以降低你患癡呆癥的風險，因為在冰冷的水中游泳對那些不習慣的人來說是很危險的。

They say their focus now is to find drugs that prompt the production of the protein and to prove that it really does help delay dementia.

研究人員稱，他們現在的研究重點是找到能促進這種蛋白質產生的藥物，并證明它確實有助于延緩癡呆。

詞匯表

protein 蛋白
onset …開始，發作
dementia 癡呆
exposure 接觸
activates 激活
latent 潛在的
hibernation 避寒，冬眠
accustomed to 習慣于
prompt 促進
delay 延緩

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. What have researchers found the ‘cold-shock’ protein can do to mice?

2. Why shouldn’t everyone jump into cold water to reduce their risk of dementia?

3. What do researchers want to find to prompt the production of the ‘cold-shock’ protein?

4. Have researchers proved the protein does delay dementia?

答案

1. What have researchers found the ‘cold-shock’ protein can do to mice?
The protein can slow the onset of dementia in mice.

2. Why shouldn’t everyone jump into cold water to reduce their risk of dementia?
Swimming in cold water can be dangerous for those not used to it.

3. What do researchers want to find to prompt the production of the ‘cold-shock’ protein?
They want to find drugs that prompt the production of the protein.

4. Have researchers proved the protein does delay dementia?
Not completely. They want to find drugs that prompt the production of the protein and to prove that it really does help delay dementia.