腦血清素藏玄機
Scientists say they have identified the earliest signs of Parkinson’s disease in the brain’s serotonin system, 15 to 20 years before symptoms appear.
科學家表示，他們能在腦中的血清素系統發現帕金森氏症的早期症狀，且是在發病的15至20年前。
identify(v.)認出、識別symptom(n.)症狀
This could not only help to treat the disease at an early stage, but also help to find the cure for it.
這不僅能幫助早期治療帕金森氏症，也可以幫助進一步找出帕金森氏症的解方。
cure(n.)藥物、治療方法
According to BBC, researchers from the King’s College London looked at the brains of 14 healthy people from remote villages in southern Greece and Italy.
根據BBC的報導，倫敦國王學院的研究者們觀察14位來自希臘與義大利偏遠村莊、健康受試者的腦部，
look at檢查
These volunteers all have the rare SNCA gene, making them almost certain to develop Parkinson’s disease in the future.
這些志願者都帶有罕見的SNCA基因，使他們未來幾乎一定會罹患帕金森氏症。
rare(adj.)稀少的develop(v.)發展
The researchers compared the subjects’ brain activities with patients who are already diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
研界者們將這些健康受試者的腦部活動，與其他已確診帕金森氏症的患者做比較。
compare(v.)比較diagnose with診斷出⋯⋯
The results indicated that some changes occur in a certain chemical in the serotonin system in patients in their 20s and 30s.
結果發現，受試者在20、30歲時，腦部的血清系統中有種化學物質發生變化，
indicate(v.)表示occur(v.)發生
The chemical has many functions in the brain and can influence a variety of things, including mood, appetite, cognition, well-being and movement.
該化學物質影響腦部許多功能，包含情緒、胃口、認知、健康狀況及動作。
cognition(n.)認知
The main symptoms of Parkinson’s are shaking, tremors and sleep problems.
而帕金森氏症的主要症狀為搖晃、發抖及睡眠問題。
symptom(n.)症狀tremor(n.)顫抖
Although there is presently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, this finding could open up a lot of new doors.
儘管目前對帕金森氏症未有根治方法，但這項研究發現也許能帶來諸多新的可能性。