New research suggests that a brain protein that has changed form may be the cause of brain disorders -- including Alzheimer's Disease. Researchers say they have developed a treatment that may cause the protein to return to its original form, preventing the disease from developing or reversing the effects of the damage in people who already suffer from Alzheimer's.
新的研究表明，一种形式已经改变的脑蛋白可能是包括老年痴呆症在内的脑部疾病的起因。研究人员表示，他们已经开发出一种可能导致这种蛋白质重回其原始形式的疗法，从而预防病情恶化或者逆转已经患上老年痴呆症患者所受损伤的影响。
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, found that the shape of the protein -- which is called "tau" -- is changed by severe injuries to the brain. The scientists say when people are hit in the head many times, they develop a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
马萨诸塞州波士顿市贝斯以色列女执事医疗中心的研究人员发现，被称为tau的这种蛋白质的形状被脑部严重损伤而改变。科学家们表示，当人们被多次击中头部，他们就会患上慢性创伤性脑病，简称CTE。
CTE develops in soldiers with head injuries. People who play American football also suffer from CTE after being hit in the head many times. The memory, judgment and ability to function are affected in people with CTE.
头部受伤的士兵会患上慢性创伤性脑病。美式足球运动员在多次被撞到脑部后也会患上慢性创伤性脑病。慢性创伤性脑病患者的记忆、判断、功能性能力都受到影响。
Alvaro Pascual-Leone is a neurologist -- a brain scientist. He was one of the researchers who discovered the effect of brain injuries on the "tau" protein.
阿尔瓦罗·帕斯夸尔利昂（Alvaro Pascual-Leone）是一位神经学家，也就是脑科学家。他是发现脑损伤对tau蛋白质影响的研究人员之一。
"We know that the tau plays a key role in Alzheimer's disease. And so it is possible that also there, in the absence of traumatic brain injury, one might be able to protect the brain from the damage in the progression of the disease."
他说，“我们知道，tau蛋白质在老年痴呆症中发挥着关键作用。因此也有可能，在不存在创伤性脑损伤的情况下，它可能能够防止大脑在疾病发展过程中受到损害。”
The researchers recently published an article about their findings in the journal Nature. Mr. Pascual-Leone and his colleagues reported that they had developed a treatment that returns the damaged tau to its original, undamaged form. He says it might be possible to use the treatment to stop the development of Alzheimer's Disease. And he suggests it could also slow the loss of brain function in people who already have the disease.
这些研究人员最近在自然杂志上发表了一篇关于他们研究结果的文章。帕斯夸尔利昂先生和他的同事报告说，他们已经开发出一种疗法，可以让tau蛋白质回到原始的未受损形状。他说可能可以应用这种疗法来阻止老年痴呆症的发展。他还暗示它还能减缓已经患上这种疾病的患者脑部功能的丧失。
"If we were able to slow down the progression or to modify the course of the disease, it would have a big impact on the well-being of the patients and their families."
他说，“如果我们能够减缓疾病的发展进程，或者调整这种疾病的发展方向，对患者及其家属的福祉就会产生很大影响。”
Scientists discovered the tau in mice that suffered brain injuries began changing form in as little as 12 hours after the mice were hit in the head.
科学家们发现，遭受脑损伤的小白鼠体内的tau蛋白质在它们被击中脑部之后的短短12个小时内开始改变形状。
Researchers hope to develop a blood test or use machines that can see into the brain to help them identify changed tau. Early identification of the problem in people with brain injury could help doctors treat them quickly and stop the tau from changing.
研究人员希望开发一种血液测试或使用可以看到大脑内部的仪器来帮助他们确定已改变的tau蛋白质。在脑损伤患者中，早期诊断出这一问题可以帮助医生尽快治疗他们并阻止tau蛋白质不断改变。
I'm Christopher Jones-Cruise.
我是克里斯托弗·琼斯 - 克鲁斯。(51VOA.COM对本文翻译保留全部权利，未经授权请勿转载，违者必究！)