玩電腦游戲一直以來沒有擺脫“不務正業”的標簽，但看了下面文章，也許您會對它有新的看法呢？沒有錯，文章主題就是“電腦游戲或可減緩老年人
記憶力下降”。
The computer game's concept is relatively simple. Find thematching motor vehicle and road sign amid a series of increasingdistractions. Succeed and the challenge gets quicker andharder.
這款電腦游戲的理念十分簡單，就是在干擾力度逐漸增大的情況下，準確地匹配汽車類型與路標。通過一關后，挑戰難度和速度就會不斷提高。
Cognitive-training games like this one, Double Decision, aredesigned to improve brain functions and are at the center of agrowing body of research looking at their effectiveness asscientists strive to find ways to ward off the cognitive declinesthat usually come with age。
認知訓練類游戲專為改善大腦功能而設計，“三思而行”(DoubleDecision)就是其中之一。由于科學家們正努力尋找能夠解決人們認知能力隨年齡增長而下降的方法，越來越多的研究開始關注這類游戲的有效性。
A government-funded study published this month found thatplaying Double Decision can slow and even reverse declines in brainfunction associated with aging, while playing crossword puzzlescannot. The study builds on an earlier large trial which found thatolder people who played various cognitive games had betterhealth-related outcomes, driving records and performed better ateveryday tasks such as preparing a meal。
本月發表的一項研究顯示，玩“三思而行”(DoubleDecision)能夠減緩甚至扭轉人們隨著年齡增長而腦功能下降的趨勢，而填字游戲卻做不到這一點。該研究由政府資助，其結果來源于早先一次大規模的試驗，該試驗表明：玩過多種認知游戲的老年人具有更好的健康狀況和駕駛記錄；做飯等日常事務也表現得更出色。
Such research has led groups like AARP, the big seniors group,to jump on board and offer discounts for certain games that haveshown proven benefits。
這一研究致使大型老年人組織美國退休人員協會(AARP)也參與到實踐中，向老人提供一些已經被證實具有良好效果的游戲產品，并為他們提供一定的折扣。
Doctors who work with the elderly say they get many questionsabout so-called brain games and exercises. Despite promising studyresults, some doctors say there still isn't enough evidence toprove such exercises will help people in everyday life。
與老人打交道的醫生則對所謂的腦力游戲和訓練產生了質疑。雖然研究結果十分明朗，但一些醫生認為目前還沒有足夠的證據表明，這樣的游戲訓練能在日常生活給予人們幫助。
'What they do is they train you with a computer program to dobetter on a test' of cognitive function, said BarbaraMessinger-Rapport, director of the Center for Geriatric Medicine atthe Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. 'But does that mean you do better onreal-life activities that utilize those skills such as driving . ..or managing your medications?'
美國俄亥俄州克利夫蘭醫院(Cleveland Clinic)老年醫學中心主任芭芭拉 梅新杰 拉波特(BarbaraMessinger-Rapport)說：“他們所做的無非是通過電腦程序來使得老人在認知測試上有較好的表現，但這并不意味著你在現實生活中也具有同樣的認知能力，比如開車或者管理藥物。”
不管怎樣，希望有類似的電腦程序或是其它設置，來幫助我們對抗歲月的侵蝕，減緩
記憶力的下降。
精英特速讀記憶訓練網總編輯
