New drug ‘donanemab’ slows Alzheimer’s cognitive decline

admin 2023年10月23日

Beginner

Health & Lifestyle, Health & Lifestyle - Beginner

©dementiaresearcher

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Have you heard of Alzheimer’s disease before?
Is Alzheimer’s disease common in your country?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

promise /PROM-is /

[noun] – the idea that someone or something is likely to develop successfully and that people expect this to happen
The young athlete shows great promise in her skills and has the potential to become a successful competitor.

test /test/

[test] – to put something through a process in order to discover if it is safe, works correctly, etc., or if something is present in it
The laboratory will test the water samples to determine if they contain any contaminants.

despite /dih-SPAHYT/

[preposition] – without taking any notice of or being influenced by; not prevented by
Despite the rain, they continued their outdoor picnic and enjoyed themselves.

progress /PROG-res/

[noun] – movement to an improved or more developed state, or to a forward position
The team made significant progress in developing a new software application, bringing them closer to their goal.

battle /BAT-l/

[noun] – A battle can also be a serious effort to change a situation
The organization launched a battle against poverty.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

A drug called donanemab has shown promise for treating Alzheimer’s disease. It was tested in a global study and found to slow down memory decline in people with early-stage Alzheimer’s by targeting protein buildup in the brain. While it’s not a cure, the results are hopeful. The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is considering using donanemab in the National Health Service (NHS). The drug has been shown to slow disease progression by about one-third, helping patients maintain their daily activities and quality of life. However, there are risks, such as brain swelling, which was seen in the study. Despite the risks, donanemab represents progress in fighting Alzheimer’s and brings hope to those affected by the disease.

Efforts are also being made to diagnose Alzheimer’s earlier and prepare the NHS for providing the necessary treatments. The results of the donanemab study are a step forward in the battle against Alzheimer’s and offer hope to millions of people affected by the disease.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

The drug donanemab has been proven to completely cure Alzheimer’s disease in clinical trials.
Donanemab targets protein buildup in the kidneys rather than the brain, showing no effect on Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Donanemab has been found to worsen symptoms and reduce quality of life in individuals with Alzheimer’s.
Brain swelling is a known risk associated with donanemab, as observed in the study.
The results of the donanemab study signify a step forward in battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

promise

test

despite

progress

battle

Before launching the new product, the company will ____ it extensively to ensure its safety and functionality.
The city’s infrastructure has undergone remarkable ________ over the past decade.
The activists fought a hard ______ for equal rights, advocating for justice and societal change.
She pursued her dreams _______ the obstacles and criticism that came her way.
The aspiring chef’s culinary skills show _______ toward a successful career in the culinary industry.