■刀客

原文：

 A new study of rat brains exposed to military-grade blasts indicates that troops subjected to explosive shockwaves may be at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, including service members who show no symptoms of concussion or brain injury after a blast.

 The Army Research Laboratory, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, University of North Carolina at Pembroke and National Institutes of Health collaborated on the research, which showed that exposure to blasts alters the connections between neurons of the hippocampus at the molecular level.

 The changes in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that helps form memories and guides social behavior, are similar to what is seen ＇deep in the brain＇ in patients with Alzheimer's disease, explained Frederick Gregory, an Army Research Lab neuroscientist.

中譯：

 有關老鼠大腦暴露於軍事等級爆炸環境的一項新研究顯示，曾受到爆炸震波影響，包括爆震後無腦震盪或腦損傷的官兵，罹患阿茲海默症的風險可能會較高。

 此研究由美國陸軍研究實驗室、陸軍戰鬥能力發展指揮部、北卡羅來納大學彭布羅克分校、國家衛生研究院等機構共同合作。結果顯示，暴露於爆炸環境，會改變海馬迴神經元分子結構間的鏈結。

 陸軍研究實驗室神經科學家葛雷格里解釋，海馬迴是腦中輔助形成記憶、導引社會行為的部分，其病變類似阿茲海默症患者「腦部深處」所呈現的樣子。

-關鍵軍語- 

 ※shockwave:

 A compressional wave of high amplitude caused by a shock.

 ※blast:

 A destructive wave of highly compressed air spreading outward from an explosion.

例句：

 The blast could be heard across Baghdad and triggered security sirens at the US embassy compound.

 爆炸聲響傳遍巴格達，並觸動美國大使館營區的安全警報器。