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More about Alzheimer's Disease

Scientists have developed skin tests that may be used in the future to identify people with Alzheimer's disease1 and may ultimately allow physicians to predict who is at risk of getting this neurological disorder.

The only current means of diagnosing the disease in a living patient is a long and expensive series of tests that eliminate every other cause of dementia.

"Since Alois Alzheimer described the disease nearly a century ago，people have been trying to find a way to accurately diagnose it in its early stages2，" said Patricia Grady，acting director3 of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, Maryland."This discovery, if confirmed, could prove a big step forward in our efforts to deal with and understand the disease."

Alzheimer's is the single greatest cause4 of mental deterioration in older people, affecting between 2. 5 million and 4 million people in the United States alone5. The devastating disorder gradually destroys memory and the ability to function，and eventually causes death.6 There is currently no known treatment for the disease.

Researches discovered that the skin cells of Alzheimer' s patients have defects that interfere with their ability to regulate the flow of potassium in and out of the cells. The fact that the cell defects are present in the skin suggests that7 Alzheimer's results from physiological changes throughout the body，and that dementia may be the first noticeable effect of these changes as the defects affect the cells in the brain, scientists said.

The flow of potassium is especially critical in cells responsible for memory formation8. The scientists also found two other defects that affect the cells' supply of calcium, another critical element.

One test developed by researches calls for9 growing skin cells in a laboratory culture and then testing them with an electrical detector to determine if the microscopic tunnels that govern the flow of potassium are open. Open potassium channels create a unique electrical signature.

A spokesman for the Alzheimer's Association said that if the validity of the diagnostic test can be proven it would be an important development, but cautioned that other promising tests for Alzheimer's have been disappointing.10

词汇：

neurological  adj.神经病 学的

dementia  n.痴呆

deterioration  n.恶化，退化

devastating adj.破坏性极大的，毁灭性的

defect n.缺损，毛病

physiological  adj.生理的; 生理学的

potassium n.钟

formation n.形成，组成

calcium n.考丐

microscopi adj.极小的，微小的

signature n. 标志，署名，签名，签字

 validity  n.效力，有效(性)

练习：

1.The newly developed skin tests may be used in the future to allow doctors to

A cure those with Alzheimer's disease.

B discover the cause of Alzheimer's disease.

C predict who might get Alzheimer's disease.

D find the consequences of Alzheimer's disease.

2.The passage indicates that Alzheimer's is a disease

A common to people，old and young.

B not costly to be cured.

C easy to be handled.

D not easy to be diagnosed.

3.Which of the following statements about the Alzheimer's disease is NOT true?

A It was so named because Alois Alzheimer first described it.

B It is the greatest cause of mental deterioration in older people.

C It can gradually destroy memory and eventually cause death.

D There are many ways to deal with and cure the disease now.

4.What is the relationship between Alzheimer's and dementia?

A Dementia is one of the signs of Alzheimer's.

B Alzheimer's is one of the causes of dementia.

C They are two completely different diseases.

D They are similar defects of the human brain.

5. The last paragraph implies that the diagnostic test

A will not be as promising as others.

B is a very important development.

C may not be proven valid smoothly.

D will surely be disappointing in the end.

答案与题解：

1.C 第一段中谈到试验的最终目的在于 ultimately allow physicians to predict who is at risk of getting this neurological disorder,所以只有 C 项符合题意。

2.D根据文章第二段我们可以推断。

3.D与该题有关的内容在第三段和第四段，选项D与原文There is currently no known treatment for the disease 正好相反。

4.A 第五段中谈至U了二者的关系，Alzheimer's results from physiological changes...，and that dementia may be the first noticeable effect of these changes. ?.,也就是说，dementia 是 Alzheimer's 的表现之一。?

5. C最后一段发言人谈到这一试验的前途时较为含蓄，只说如能证明有效自然是一大发展， 但提醒人们以前的试验看上去也很有前途，结果却令人失望，据此，只有C项符合这一段的 蕴涵意义。

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