Stroke patients are more likely to regain their cognitive functions if they speak more than one language, new research has discovered.
最新研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，如果中風患者會說不只一種語言，那么他們更有可能恢復認知能力。

A study of more than 600 stroke victims found 40.5% of those who are multilingual had normal mental functions afterwards, compared to 19.6% of patients who only speak one language.
這項針對600多名中風患者的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，會說多種語言的人中，有40.5%的人病后恢復了到了正常心智，而只會說一種語言的病人中，19.6%的人恢復了正常心智。

The study was carried out by a team from the University of Edinburgh together with the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad - with the Indian city chosen as the location for the study because its multi-cultural nature means many languages are commonly spoken.
發(fā)布該研究的團隊來自愛丁堡大學和印度海得拉巴市的尼扎姆醫(yī)學研究所。之所以選擇印度城市海得拉巴作為研究對象，是因為多元的文化使得多語人士在當?shù)睾艹Ｒ姟?/p>

Researchers took into account other factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and age to ensure results could not be attributed to having a healthier lifestyle.
研究人員將其他因素也列入考慮范圍，比如吸煙、高血壓、糖尿病和年齡等，以確保該研究結果與更健康的生活方式無關。

The study, published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke, found 'results support the notion of a protective role of bilingualism in the development of post-stroke cognitive impairment'.
研究發(fā)表在美國心臟協(xié)會的《中風》雜志上，研究發(fā)現(xiàn)：“該結果肯定了這一概念——雙語對中風后認知障礙的發(fā)展具有保護作用。”

It is the first time a study has been done looking at the relationship between the number of languages spoken and a patient's cognitive outcome after stroke.
這是首次有研究關注“會說幾種語言”與“中風后患者的認知程度”之間的關系。

'The percentage of patients with intact cognitive functions post-stroke was more than twice as high in bilinguals than in monolinguals,' the paper said.
該論文稱，“中風后認知功能未受損的雙語患者的百分比數(shù)量是單語患者的兩倍多?！?/p>

'In contrast, patients with cognitive impairment were more common in monolinguals.'
“相反，認知功能障礙在單語患者中更常見?！?/p>

Researchers believe the study, which was funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research, suggests the mental challenge of speaking multiple languages can boost cognitive reserve - an improved ability of the brain to cope with damaging influences such as stroke or dementia.
這項調查由印度醫(yī)學研究委員會提供資金支持。研究人員認為，該研究說明多語能力對神經構成一種挑戰(zhàn)，該挑戰(zhàn)提高了認知儲備——進而改進了大腦功能，能應對像中風或癡呆這種疾病的破壞性影響。

Co-author Thomas Bak, of the University of Edinburgh's school of philosophy, psychology and language sciences said: 'Bilingualism makes people switch from one language to another, so while they inhibit one language, they have to activate another to communicate.
共同作者之一、愛丁堡大學哲學、心理學和語言科學學院的托馬斯·鮑克說：“雙語讓人們從一種語言轉換到另一種語言，所以當一種語言被抑制時，他們不得不用另一種語言去交流?！?/p>

'This switching offers practically constant brain training which may be a factor in helping stroke patients recover.'
“這種轉換提供了幾乎連續(xù)不斷的大腦訓練，這可能是幫助中風患者恢復的一個因素?！?/p>

Vocabulary
cognitive function：認知功能
stroke：中風
diabetes：糖尿病

英文來源：每日郵報
譯者：張卉
審校&編輯：杜娟