Australian Study Links Fast Food, Dementia

澳洲研究顯示：速食與失智症有關

Research from the Australian National University (ANU) is warning of a link between the extra calories in a fast-food burger and brain diseases, including dementia.

      澳洲國立大學（Australian National University，ANU）的研究對大眾提出警告：速食漢堡的高熱量與失智症(dementia)等腦部疾病相關。

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Australian Study Links Fast Food, Dementia
VOA News
June 15, 2019 05:03 AM Phil Mercer (source)

Australian Study Links Fast Food, Dementia

澳洲研究顯示：速食與失智症有關

June 15, 2019 05:03 AM

Phil Mercer

SYDNEY —

Research from the Australian National University (ANU) is warning of a link between the extra calories in a fast-food burger and brain diseases, including dementia.

People are "eating away at their brain with a really bad fast-food diet and little to no exercise," the lead author of the study said. The ANU study also reinforces the link between type 2 diabetes, which is often triggered by obesity, and the rapid deterioration of brain function.

Dementia is the leading cause of death in Australian women, while for men it is second only to heart disease.

A clear link

Researchers believe there is a clear link between the deterioration of the brain and an unhealthy diet as well as a lack of exercise.

There is a warning that highly processed fast food that is cheap, widely available and loaded with calories, sugar and fat is leading to significant harm.

The study from the ANU says that the damage to the brain is almost certainly irreversible once a person reaches middle age.

Professor Nicolas Cherbuin says lifestyle choices really do matter.

"Poorer diet leads to the development of obesity," he said. "It is compounded by the lack of physical activity, it leads to an increased level of inflammation in our body, which when it is [in] response to trauma is a good thing. But when it is constantly there it creates damage. It also kills neurons, so it affects our brain function and it leads to ultimately a greater risk of developing dementia later in life." 

A third of adults overweight, obese

The research says that about a third of the world's adult population is either overweight or obese. The advice is to eat well and exercise from a young age.

It is estimated that dementia affects almost 50 million people worldwide, and the global cost of the brain syndromes, including Alzheimer's disease, is more than $800 billion.

At present there is no prevention or cure for most forms of dementia.

However, some medication has been found to reduce some symptoms.

澳洲國立大學（Australian National University，ANU）的研究對大眾提出警告：速食漢堡的高熱量與失智症(dementia)等腦部疾病相關。

人們「愛吃速食的不良飲食習慣及運動量不足正侵害(eat away)大腦。」研究的主持人說。這項由澳洲國立大學進行的研究也進一步證實(reinforce)第二型糖尿病（type 2 diabetes）與大腦功能快速退化(deterioration)兩者之間的關係。第二型糖尿病多由肥胖(obesity)引發(trigger)。

失智症是澳洲婦女的首要死因，對男性的危害則僅次於心臟病。

明顯的關聯

研究人員相信，不健康的飲食習慣以及缺乏運動皆與腦部退化有著顯而易見的關聯。

值得警惕的是，高度加工(processed)、便宜且隨處可見的(widely available)速食食品含有大量的(be loaded with . . .)熱量、糖分與脂肪，是對腦部造成顯著傷害的因素。

澳洲國立大學的這項研究指出，人一旦邁入中年後，腦部的損傷幾乎可以確定無法復原(irreversible)。

尼古拉斯．切爾賓（Nicolas Cherbuin）教授表示，選擇以何種方式過生活的確至關重要。

「較差的飲食就會引起肥胖。」他說。「缺乏運動會使肥胖的情形更加嚴重(compound . . .)，這會增加體內發炎(inflammation)的程度。發炎是人體對外傷(trauma)的自然反應，但如果長期存在，會造成損害，也會損毀神經元(neuron)，因而影響腦部功能，最終(ultimately)導致我們在日後罹患失智症的風險增加。」

〔編按：神經元是神經系統中高度分化的細胞，能夠感知環境變化，並將訊息傳遞給其他神經元。〕

三分之一的成人過重且肥胖

這項研究顯示，全球約有三分之一的成年人口不是過重就是肥胖(obese)。對此，專家建議從年輕就養成良好的飲食與運動習慣。

據統計，全世界將近 5000 萬人受失智症影響，而包括阿茲海默症（Alzheimer's disease）在內的疾病引起的腦部併發症(syndrome)則使全球醫療費用超過 8000 億。

多數失智症的症狀目前沒有預防或治癒的方法。

然而，研究已發現，部分藥物(medication)可用來減緩些許症狀。