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67-year-old Ivy Segal's father died from Alzheimer's at the age of 87.
67岁的艾薇·西格尔的父亲死于阿尔茨海默病，享年87岁。
Knowing that the disease can be hereditary, she volunteered to be part of the research project.
艾薇知道这种疾病是可以遗传的，于是她自愿参加了一项研究项目。
He passed away from Alzheimer's disease in 2011. So it's close and dear to my heart.
他于2011年因阿尔茨海默病去世，这对我而言意义重大。
The disease is also close to her daughter Jessica Langbaum, a researcher at Banner Alzheimer's Institute in Phoenix.
这种疾病也与她的女儿杰西卡·兰鲍姆关系密切，她是凤凰城阿尔茨海默病研究所研究员。
She is leading two studies aimed at finding a way to prevent it.
目前她正带领进行两项研究，旨在找出预防阿尔茨海默病的方法。
We're enrolling people who are healthy, who do not yet have memory and thinking problems associated with Alzheimer's disease.
我们招募的参与者身体状况都还很健康，目前还没有出现与阿尔茨海默病相关的记忆力问题和思维问题。
A sticky plaque, a protein called amyloid clogs the brains of people with Alzheimer's.
一种叫做淀粉样蛋白的粘稠蛋白斑堵塞了患者的大脑。
And work is underway to block the plaque formation in healthy people who are at risk for dementia.
对于那些有患病风险的健康人，我们试图阻止蛋白斑的形成。
So this is a demonstration of a group that we know will develop Alzheimer's disease
目前可知这一群体将患上阿尔茨海默病，
and then as we get closer to the age at which they might be expected to develop symptoms
到了他们有可能出现症状的年龄，
you can see that most of the amyloid has already accumulated.
你可以看到多数淀粉样蛋白已经聚集了。
The earlier we intervene and we prevent the buildup of that amyloid around the brain connections,
我们越早干预治疗，越早预防淀粉样蛋白的聚集，
the more likely that we'll have a successful result.
成功的几率就越大。
Clinics in the US and some other countries are working with the Banner Alzheimer's Institute
美国和其他一些国家的诊所正与该研究所展开合作，
by signing up healthy participants between the ages of 60 and 75.
鼓励年龄在60至75岁的健康人群参与到这个项目中来。
They get periodic brain scans, memory and thinking tests every six months
他们每六个月进行一次脑部扫描，记忆和思维测试，
and experimental drugs or placebos for several years.
并在多年内服用实验性药物或安慰剂。
The volunteers are also checked for the APOE4 gene which raises the possibility of developing Alzheimer's.
志愿者们还进行了APOE4基因检测，该基因能够增加患阿尔茨海默病的可能性。
Age is the greatest risk factor, the biggest risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. APOE4 is the second.
年龄是最大的危险因素，是阿尔茨海默病的最大危险因素，APOE4基因是第二大危险因素。
The participants are required to join GeneMatch, a confidential registry for people from 55 to 75
参与者要加入“基因匹配”项目，这是一个为55-75岁人群设立的保密登记处，
who want to volunteer for Alzheimer's studies but have not been diagnosed with mental decline.
这些人自愿接受针对该疾病的研究，且并未诊断出心智减退。
Ivy Segel didn't hesitate to sign up.
艾薇·西格尔毫不犹豫就报名了。
I want to do whatever I can to help the cause.
我想要尽我所能去帮助治疗这个疾病。
So far more than 70,000 people have joined the registry.
目前已有超七万人加入了该项目。
But the researchers say hundreds of thousands more volunteers are needed for Alzheimer's research.
但研究者称我们还需要成千上万的志愿者。
Deborah Block VOA News
VOA新闻，德博拉·布洛克报道
