從保健眼睛做起
Alzheimer’s is a notoriously difficult condition to both recognize and treat, but at the University of Washington researchers have discovered a trait that may make it easier for doctors to spot the disease.
阿茲海默症是一個眾所周知難以診斷和治療的疾病，但華盛頓大學研究者發現了一個可能使醫生更容易診斷出該疾病的特徵。
notoriously(adv.)臭名昭著地、聲名狼藉地trait(n.)特徵、特性、特點
In a study of 3,877 randomly selected patients aged 65 and older, researchers discovered a link between Alzheimer’s disease and three eyesight problems.
研究人員隨機挑選3877位眼部疾病患者，年齡皆為65歲以上，發現阿茲海默症與三種眼部病變有關。
randomly(adv.)隨機地
These were diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration, which is a common condition in patients over the age of 50.
這些眼部病變分別是糖尿病視網膜病變、青光眼，以及好發於50歲以上患者的老化性黃斑部病變。
diabetic retinopathy糖尿病視網膜病變retina(n.)視網膜glaucoma(n.)青光眼macular degeneration黃斑部病變
“We don’t mean people with these eye conditions will get Alzheimer’s disease,” said lead researcher Dr. Cecilia Lee, “the main message from this study is that doctors should be more aware of the risks of developing dementia.”
該研究的主要研究員Cecilia Lee表示：「我們並不是說患有這些眼部疾病的人會有阿茲海默症，這項研究的主要訊息是醫生應該更加意識到罹患失智症的風險。」
be aware of~明白;意識到;對…有意識
The assistant professor said that she hopes the findings will encourage doctors to look for signs of Alzheimer’s in patients with eyesight problems.
她還說，希望研究結果能鼓勵眼科醫生留意罹患這三種眼部疾病的人，是否有阿茲海默症徵兆。
encourage sb. to do… 鼓勵某人做某事
Identifying risk factors may help doctors to prevent or even reduce the impact of the disease in the future, said the research team.
研究團隊說，未來辨識危險因子可能有助於醫生預防，甚至減少阿茲海默症的影響。
identify(v.)認出、辨識、識別
The participants in the five-year study did not have Alzheimer’s, but those with eye conditions were found to be at a 40% to 50% greater risk of developing the disease.
研究追蹤5年期間，雖然參與者並未罹患阿茲海默症，但未來患病的機率比常人高出40到50％。
Alzheimer’s disease is one of two types of dementia, and by far the most common.
失智症分為兩類，其中最常見的為阿茲海默症，
dementia(n.)失智症by far~到目前為止
More than 46 million adults are affected by the condition worldwide, but numbers are expected to rise to 131.5 million cases by 2050.
全球約有4千6百萬名成人患病，預估到了2050年，患者人數恐達1億3150萬人。
be affected by~ 受…影響;患…病=be afflicted with~