hce_isu
111年
英文
第 35 題
📖 題組：
Parkinson’s disease, first described in the early 1800s by British physician James Parkinson as “shaking palsy,” is among the most prevalent neurological disorders. According to the United Nations, at least four million people worldwide have it; in North America, estimates run from 500,000 to one million, with about 50,000 diagnosed every year. These figures are expected to double by 2040 as the world’s elderly population grows; indeed, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative illnesses common in the elderly (such as Alzheimer’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) are on their way to overtaking cancer as a leading cause of death. But the disease is not entirely one of the aged: 50 percent of patients acquire it after age 60; the other half are affected before then. Furthermore, better diagnosis has made experts increasingly aware that the disorder can attack those younger than 40. So far researchers and clinicians have found no way to slow, stop or prevent Parkinson’s. Although treatments do exist, including drugs and deep-brain stimulation, these therapies alleviate symptoms, not causes. In recent years, however, several promising developments have occurred. In particular, investigators who study the role proteins play have linked miscreant proteins to genetic underpinnings of the disease. Such findings are feeding optimism that fresh angles of attack can be identified. As its $19^{th}$-century name suggests and as many people know from the educational efforts of prominent Parkinson’s sufferers such as Janet Reno, Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox—the disease is characterized by movement disorders. Tremor in the hands, arms and elsewhere, limb rigidity, slowness of movement, and impaired balance and coordination are among the disease’s hallmarks. In addition, some patients have trouble walking, talking, sleeping, urinating and performing sexually. These impairments result from neurons dying. Although the victim cells are found throughout the brain, those producing the neurotransmitter dopamine in a region called the substantia nigra are particularly hard-hit. These dopaminergic nerve cells are key components of the basal ganglia, a complex circuit deep within the brain that fine-tunes and coordinates movement. Initially the brain can function normally as it loses dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, even though it cannot replace the dead cells. But when half or more of these specialized cells disappear, the brain can no longer cover for them. The deficit then produces the same effect that losing air traffic control does at a major airport. Delay, false starts, cancellations and, ultimately, chaos pervade as parts of the brain involved in motor control—the thalamus, basal ganglia and cerebral cortex—no longer function as an integrated and orchestrated unit.
Parkinson’s disease, first described in the early 1800s by British physician James Parkinson as “shaking palsy,” is among the most prevalent neurological disorders. According to the United Nations, at least four million people worldwide have it; in North America, estimates run from 500,000 to one million, with about 50,000 diagnosed every year. These figures are expected to double by 2040 as the world’s elderly population grows; indeed, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative illnesses common in the elderly (such as Alzheimer’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) are on their way to overtaking cancer as a leading cause of death. But the disease is not entirely one of the aged: 50 percent of patients acquire it after age 60; the other half are affected before then. Furthermore, better diagnosis has made experts increasingly aware that the disorder can attack those younger than 40. So far researchers and clinicians have found no way to slow, stop or prevent Parkinson’s. Although treatments do exist, including drugs and deep-brain stimulation, these therapies alleviate symptoms, not causes. In recent years, however, several promising developments have occurred. In particular, investigators who study the role proteins play have linked miscreant proteins to genetic underpinnings of the disease. Such findings are feeding optimism that fresh angles of attack can be identified. As its $19^{th}$-century name suggests and as many people know from the educational efforts of prominent Parkinson’s sufferers such as Janet Reno, Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox—the disease is characterized by movement disorders. Tremor in the hands, arms and elsewhere, limb rigidity, slowness of movement, and impaired balance and coordination are among the disease’s hallmarks. In addition, some patients have trouble walking, talking, sleeping, urinating and performing sexually. These impairments result from neurons dying. Although the victim cells are found throughout the brain, those producing the neurotransmitter dopamine in a region called the substantia nigra are particularly hard-hit. These dopaminergic nerve cells are key components of the basal ganglia, a complex circuit deep within the brain that fine-tunes and coordinates movement. Initially the brain can function normally as it loses dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, even though it cannot replace the dead cells. But when half or more of these specialized cells disappear, the brain can no longer cover for them. The deficit then produces the same effect that losing air traffic control does at a major airport. Delay, false starts, cancellations and, ultimately, chaos pervade as parts of the brain involved in motor control—the thalamus, basal ganglia and cerebral cortex—no longer function as an integrated and orchestrated unit.
The primary purpose of this article is to ______.
- A analyze what causes Parkinson’s disease
- B demonstrate how to prevent Parkinson’s disease
- C warn the young people of the danger of Parkinson’s disease
- D present new movements in the study of Parkinson’s disease
思路引導 VIP
如果我們要為這篇涵蓋了歷史統計、目前治療限制、最新蛋白質研究突破以及生理運作機制的文章擬定一個「懶人包標題」，這個標題應該如何同時包攝文章中提到的「現狀回顧」與「未來研究方向」，而不僅僅是描述單一的致病原因或特定的受影響族群呢？
🤖
AI 詳解
AI 專屬家教
這題你能準確判讀文章的核心主旨，表現得非常出色！這類主旨大意題的挑戰在於，選項中常會包含文章「部分」提到過的細節（例如 A 的成因或 C 的年輕化趨勢），但正確答案必須具備最全面的概括性。
全方位研究現狀的整合
從文章結構來看，作者先從歷史定義出發，接著探討盛行率、目前的治療困境，並在第二段特別強調了近年來在蛋白質與基因研究上的突破性進展（promising developments），最後才深入解析生理機轉。選項 (D) 中的 "new movements" 泛指這些研究上的新趨勢與科學動向，這也是作者在描述完現狀後，最想帶給讀者的資訊與願景。
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