新医科大学英语 课件 Unit 7 Living longer,living better

新医科大学英语CollegeEnglishfor

NewMedicalSciences7UnitLivinglonger,livingbetter新医科大学英语CollegeEnglishfor

NewMedicalSciencesAfterstudyingthisunit,youwillbeableto:definetheconceptandmechanismsofhealthyagingandexplainhowthefocusofagingresearchshiftsfromlifespantohealthspan;evaluatecurrentanti-agingstrategiesandgiveasensibleopinionontheirefficacy;usecausalchainsinstructuringscientificnarratives;analyzethemedicaltermsrelatedtoagingandproperlyusemedicallanguageincontext;presentaproposalforbuildinganage-friendlysociety.Learning

objectivesCONTENTS新医科大学英语CollegeEnglishfor

NewMedicalSciencesUnlocking

thetopicViewingthroughthelensExploringthefrontierSharpening

medicallanguageskillsGettingonthestageTheworldisgrayingatanunprecedentedpace.By2050,oneinsixpeoplewillbeover65,accordingtoaUNreport.Whatifagingdoesn’tmeandecline,butopportunity?Healthyagingisn’tjustaboutlivinglonger–it’saboutlivingbetter,maintainingphysical,mental,andsocialwell-beingasweage.Healthyagingrepresentsatransformativeapproachthatintegratesmedicalinnovation,socialsupport,andlifestyleinterventions.Howcanthesefactorsreshapethewaywethinkaboutaging?Howcanwebuildanage-friendlysociety?Let’sexplorethepossibilitiestogether.ActivatingsubjectknowledgeScanthecodeandcompletetheknowledgeactivationexerciseonUcampus.Lookatthepictureaboutaging.Workinpairsanddiscussfactorsthatspeedupagingandslowitdown.Thenreflectonwhetheryourlifestyleacceleratesordelaysaging.Illustratewithexamples.ReferenceanswersFactorsspeedingupagingMultiplefactorssignificantlyacceleratethebiologicalagingprocess.Chronicpsychologicalstressexertsaprofoundtoll,whichcandamageDNA,shortenprotectivetelomeres,andimpairimmunefunctionovertime.Environmentaltoxins,suchasairpollutionandheavymetals,causedamagetoourcellsandtissues.Thesekindsoflifestylefactorssignificantlyacceleratebiologicalaging.Prolongedsittingweakensmuscles,slowsReferenceanswersmetabolism,andtriggersinflammation.Poorsleepdisruptsthebody’srepairatnight,acceleratingskinagingandmemorydecline.Dietshighinsugarandprocessedfoodsdriveagingthroughglycationandchronicinflammation.Together,thesefactorscontributetowrinkles,fatigue,andhigherdiseaserisk.FactorsslowingdownagingMultipleevidence-basedinterventionscanslowdownbiologicalagingbytargetingitsfundamentalmechanisms.RegularphysicalReferenceanswersactivity,particularlyhigh-intensityintervaltraining(HIIT)andstrengthtraining,reducessystemicinflammationandstimulatesthebody’scellularrecyclingprocess.Havingseventoeighthoursofqualitysleepatnightcanoptimizegrowthhormonereleaseandclearneurotoxicwaste.Lastbutnotleast,adoptingabalanceddietwithcolorfulfruitsandveggies,fish,andnutscanshieldcellsfromdamageandactivatenaturalanti-agingdefenses.ReferenceanswersMylifestylereflectionMycurrentlifestyleplaysanimportantroleindelayingaging.Iexerciseregularly,includingdoingyogathreetimesaweek,whichgreatlyreducesmystress.Ieatbalancedmealswithveggiesandwholegrains.Iusuallygotobedbefore10p.m.toensureIgetatleast8hoursofsleepdaily.ButsometimesIdofeelstressedbecauseofmytightschedule,whichmighthaveasmallnegativeimpact.Overall,mypositivehabitshelpmedelayaging.ReferenceanswersMycurrentlifestyletendstoaccelerateaging.Mydailysedentarybehaviorhasledtomyweightgainofnearly5kg,alongwithhighcholesterolandbloodpressure.Iordertakeawaysfrequentlyandhavealotofprocessedfoodsandsnacks,whichfuelinflammation.What’sworse,Iamanightowl,oftengettingonlyfivetosixhoursofsleep.Collectively,thesehabitsmayspeeduptheagingprocess,increasingfatigue,skinaging,anddiseaserisk.maladaptive

a.

适应不良的manifestation

n.

表现sarcopenia

n.

肌肉衰减综合征musculoskeletala.

肌（与）骨骼的resilience

n.恢复力buffer

vt.

保护stressor

n.

导致紧张（焦虑或担心）的事（物）propensityn.

倾向Wordbank

Haveyoueverwonderedwhyandhowpeopleage?Whatstrategiescanhelpdelayaging?Watchthevideoclipandcompletetheoutlinewithwhatyouhear.(Withsubtitles)(Withoutsubtitles)1)___________________referstotheamountoftimeonehasbeenalive.2)_______________reflectsthedegreetowhichone’sbiologyhaschangedoveragivenamountoftime.Canwereverseaging?ChronologicalageBiologicalageVisiblesignsofagingincludeskinwrinklingandhairgraying.Agingstartsata(n)3)_____________level,whereaccumulateddamageovertimetriggerssystemicfunctionaldecline,suchas:–diabetesduetodeclinesinour4)___________________–Alzheimer’sdiseaseduetodeclinesinour5)_________________________–sarcopeniaduetodeclinesinourmusculoskeletalsystemsmolecularmetabolicsystemcentralnervoussystemThebestwaytoslowtheagingprocessisthroughourcurrent6)__________.Bothphysicalactivityanddifferent7)__________________canincreaseourresilience.lifestyledietaryregimensAgingistheprimaryriskfactorformostdiseases.Peoplecould8)__________orperhapslessentheimpactofmanyage-relateddiseasesbyslowingthedeclineofourorgansandphysiologicalsystems.Whatisimportantiskeepingpeople9)________________________foraslongaspossibleratherthanmerelyprolongingtheirlifespan.preventhealthyandfunctionalScriptsSo,ifIweretoasksomeonehowoldtheywere,theirimmediateresponseisgoingtobehowevermanycandlestheyblewoutontheirlastbirthday.It’sthenumberontheirdriver’slicenseortheirpassport,andthisischronologicalage.It’sjusttheamountofchronologicaltimeyou’vebeenalive.Thisnumberdoesn’tholdthatmuchmeaning,exceptthatithappenstobecorrelatedwiththisconceptofbiologicalaging.Sounlikechronologicalage,biologicalageisathingthatwecareabout.Andwhatscientistsmeanbybiologicalageisthedegreetowhichyourbiologyhaschangedoveragivenamountoftime.ScriptsAndwethinkthesechangesaregonnabemaladaptive–they’regonnaleadtomoredysfunction,moredecline,andultimatelymoredisease.Andwecanactuallyseethesechangesonourfacesintermsofskinwrinkling,inourhairwithgraying.Butagingisstartingatamolecularlevel,andovertime,thisisgonnagiverisetoallthefunctionalchangesandmanifestationsthatwetendtoseewithaging.

ScriptsManydiseasesofagingcanactuallybeattributedtodysfunction,declineinspecificorgansystems.So,somethinglikediabetescanbethoughtofasadeclineinourmetabolicsystem.ThingslikeAlzheimer’sdiseasearedeclinesanddysfunctioninourcentralnervoussystem.Andanotherdiseaseofaging,calledsarcopenia–whichisthemusclewastingthatweseewithaging–canbethoughtofasdeclinesinourmusculoskeletalsystems.

ScriptsSocanwereverseaging?Untilthescienceactuallycomesupwithdrugsortreatmentstoactuallytryandtargetaging,lifestylerightnowisactuallyourbestticketintermsofslowingouragingprocess.Livingsystemsareadaptive–weadapttoourenvironment;weadapttothethingsweexperience.So,youcanactuallyboostthingslikeresiliencethroughdifferentlifestylebehaviors.Forinstance,physicalactivitycanincreaseourresilienceandbufferusagainstfurtherstressorsdowntheroad.Differentdietaryregimenscanincreaseourresilienceaswell.

ScriptsWhetherwe’reobese,whatwe’reeating–thesearethingsthatwe’vebeentoldaboutfrom,let’ssay,ourmothersorgrandmothers,sotheyshouldn’tbeasurprisetopeople.ButIthinkpeopledon’trealizehowmuchtheseactuallyimpacthowfastthey’regonnaage,andalsotheirpropensityfordevelopingdifferentage-relateddiseases.

ScriptsAgingisthebiggestriskfactorformostofthediseasesthatpeopleworryabout.Andscientiststhinkthatratherthantryingtotreateachofthosediseasesindividually,ifweweretoactuallyslowtherateatwhichpeoplewereagingandslowthedeclineinourdifferentkind(kinds)oforganandphysiologicalsystems,wecouldeitherpreventorperhapslessentheimpactofmanyofthesediseases.

ScriptsSo,it’snotjustgivingpeoplealongerlife,butit’skeepingthemhealthyandfunctionalforaslongaspossible.Intheend,it’sreallyimportantforpeoplejusttorealizehowmuchpowertheyactuallyhaveintermsofimpactingthewayinwhichthey’regonnaageandimpactingtheriskofdisease.Ourrisksofdiseasearenotwritteninourgenes.Yes,wewillprobablyallage,andwe’renotgoingtoessentiallystopthat.Buttherateatwhichthathappensandthelengthoftimethatyoucanmaintainhealthandoptimalfunctioningreallycomesdowntoalotofwhatyoudoinyoureverydaylife.

Workinpairsanddiscussthequestions.Thevideoclipmentionsthedivergencebetweenchronologicalageandbiologicalage.Shouldpolicieslikeretirementrulesswitchtousingbiologicalageasabenchmark?Whatchallengesmightthiscreate?Thevideoclipsaysahealthylifestyleiscurrentlyourbestanti-agingtool,whilenewmedicaltherapiesareemerging.Inyouropinion,whichapproachismorepromisingforextendinghealthylifespans,lifestyleimprovementsormedicalinnovations?Justifyyourchoice.ReferenceanswersUsingbiologicalageasabenchmarkforretirementrulesisarationalapproach.Peopleageatdifferentrates.Evenwithinasinglebody,organsandbiologicalsystemsageatdifferentspeeds.Manypeopleintheir60sstillmaintainhighlevelsofphysicalandcognitivefunction.Basingretirementonbiologicalagewouldenablethosewhoarebiologically“younger”tocontinuecontributingtheirvaluableexperiencetotheworkforce.Crucially,itpromotesfairnessbyallowingReferenceanswerspersonalizedretirementtimelinesbasedonindividualcapacityandwillingnesstowork.Forexample,afitpersonwithbiologicalageyoungerthantheirchronologicalagecouldchoosetoextendtheircareer,whilethoseexperiencingacceleratedagingmightretireearlierwithappropriatesupport.Whilebiologicallypersonalizedretirementmaysoundprogressive,itispracticallychallengingtoimplement.First,Referenceanswersbiologicalagecanfluctuatewithlifestylechangesandlacksauniversallyaccurate,accessible,andconsistentassessmentmethod.Currenttoolslikeepigeneticclocksareneitherstandardizednorwidelyavailable.Second,implementingbiologicalageasabenchmarkwouldimposegreatadministrativeburdenongovernmentsandemployers,whomayneedtodevelopnewsystemsfordatacollection,verification,anddisputeresolution.ReferenceanswersMoreover,suchasystemmightdisadvantagesocioeconomicallyvulnerablegroupsandthoseinphysicallydemandingoccupations.Thesepopulationsoftenhavelessaccesstohealthcareandhigherbiologicalages,potentiallyforcingearlierretirement.ReferenceanswersLifestyleimprovementsholdgreaterpromiseforextendinghealthylifespans.Ahealthylifestyle,encompassingregularexercise,balancednutrition,sufficientsleep,andeffectivestressmanagement,holisticallyaddressesagingatitscore.Ittargetsmultiplebodilysystemssimultaneously,strengtheningcardiovascularhealth,boostingimmunityfunction,preservingmusclemass,andenhancingcognitivecapacity.Crucially,theseReferenceanswersbenefitsareaccessibleforthevastmajorityofthepopulationwithoutrequiringadvancedtechnologyorsignificantfinancialinvestment.Forinstance,dailyphysicalactivitynotonlyreducestheriskofchronicdiseaseslikediabetesandheartdiseasebutalsostimulatescellularrepairprocesses.Adietrichinantioxidantsfromfruitsandvegetablescombatsoxidativestress,arelevantReferenceanswerscauseofaging.Thesechangesaresustainableandaccessibletomostpeople,requiringnocomplexmedicalinterventions.Unlikemedicalinnovations,whichmaytakeyearstodevelopandfaceissueslikehighcostsorunforeseensideeffects,lifestylechangescanbeadoptedimmediately,offeringbroad-based,long-termbenefitsthatpromoteresilienceagainstagingacrosspopulations.

ReferenceanswersMedicalinnovationsholdgreatertransformativepotentialforextendinghealthylifespans.Breakthroughsinfieldslikeregenerativemedicine,genetherapy,andprecisionpharmaceuticalsofferthepossibilitynotjusttoslow,butpotentiallytoreverseage-relateddamagethatlifestylechangescanonlymitigate.

ReferenceanswersForexample,researchintostemcellregenerationcouldpotentiallyreverseage-relatedtissuedamageandrejuvenateorgans.GenetherapiessuchasCRISPRholdpromiseforaddressingage-relateddiseasesatthemolecularlevel.Furthermore,senolytics,anewclassofanti-agingdrugs,arebeingdevelopedtoselectivelyeliminatesenescentcellsthataccumulateanddriveage-relatedtissuedysfunction.

ReferenceanswersThoughdevelopingsuchtherapiesandtechniquesiscomplex,thepotentialtoprovidetargeted,potentsolutionsforagingmakesmedicalinnovationsagame-changer.Theycanreachindividualswho,duetogeneticsorcircumstances,can’tfullybenefitfromlifestyleadjustments,offeringamorecomprehensiveandtransformativeapproachtohealthylongevity.

vReading

1Reading

2新医科大学英语CollegeEnglishfor

NewMedicalSciencesExploringthefrontierWelcometothegoldeneraofrejuvenation

science1Imagineaworldwherewecanslowdown,stall,orperhapsevenreverse,ourbiologicalclocks,wherea22-year-oldcanlookandfeelthatwayforlongeranda65-year-oldcanreturntheirmindandbodytoyouthonceagain.Scientistsbelievethisisnolongerapreposteroussuggestion.2Rightnow,weareinthemidstofagoldenageoflongevityresearch.“Ourunderstandingofaginghascomeofage,”saysoneexpertattheUCLInstituteofHealthyAgeing.“Wecantargetitsmechanismstokeephealthyaswegetolder,andit’snowoneofthehottesttopicsinpharma.”3Amonghumanity’sgreatsuccessesistheextensionofhumanlife.In1900,theaveragelifeexpectancywas32years,butnowit’smorethan70.We’veachievedthisnotonlythroughtechnologiessuchasseatbeltsandlifejackets,butalsothroughvaccinesandmedicinesthatenableustoavoidandtreatinfectiousandchronicdiseases.4Butindoingsowe’vehighlightedhowmuchourbodiesdegradeovertime.Thesignsofaginggobeyondwrinklesandfatigue–theyreflectdeeperbiologicaldecline.Bonesgrowbrittleduetoosteoporosis,whilemusclesweakenfromsarcopenia.Meanwhile,cellulardamageaccumulates,raisingtheriskofaggressivecancersandneurodegenerativediseaseslikeAlzheimer’s.Eventheimmunesystemfalters,leavingolderadultsmorevulnerabletoinfections.5Accordingtosomehealthexperts,what’sincreasing–anditreallyisaproblem–isaperiodofdisability,illhealth,outrightdisease,andmultimorbidityinlatelife,andit’ssomethingthatweneedtotackle.“Weneedtosquashthatperiodofbadthingshappeningattheendoflifesopeoplestayfunctional,healthy,andhappyforlonger,”theyargue.6Tothisend,scientistshavebeeninvestigatinghowtocontrolaging,andspecificallywhetherwecanaddressnotonlyitssymptoms,butitscauses.Therewaslittlehopeuntil1993,whenscientistsdiscoveredthataworm’slifespancanbeextendedbydisablingasinglegene.Thewormsappearedtobehealthyuntiltheend,meaningtheiraginghadbeenslowedratherthantheirlivessimplyextended.7Outofthisworkcamearealizationofhow

plastic,howmalleable,theagingprocessis.Itsimpactwastotriggeraflurryofresearchintothecellularprocessesthatcauseaginginhumansandvariousmethodsthatcouldbeusedtotacklethem.8“Whathaschangedhasbeenarealmolecular,cellular,andmechanisticunderstandingoftheunderlyingprocessesthatareaffectedbythethingsthatweallknowabout,likedietandexercise,”saysoneexpert.“Wemightbeabletomanipulatetheminotherways,withdrugsorwithcelltechnology.”9Onediscoveryhasbeenthatthebiologicalclockincellscanbeturnedback.Byaddingacocktailoffourproteins,typicalhumanadultcellscanbeconvertedintoyouthfulstemcells,whichlookandactlikethoseinanewlyformedembryo.In2022,scientistsusedthisapproachtorewindthebiologicalclockofhumanskincellsbyaround30years.10Still,we’realongwayoffbeingabletousethisonhumans.Cellularrejuvenationmighttheoreticallybeusefulfortreatingcertaindiseases,butbeforeitcaneverbeusedtowindbackahuman’sbiologicalclock,itmustbeshownnottobeharmful.11That’sperhapswhymoreimmediatesuccessmaybehadinsteadwithanothermajorstrandofcurrentlongevityresearch:identifyingexistingdrugsthatcanalsobeusedtotargetthecausesofaging.Newtechniquesthatencompassmolecularsimulations,genomics,andmachinelearningareprovingpowerfulinhelpingprioritizedrug-repurposingcandidates.12Takethecancerdrugdasatinib,forinstance,whichwhenadministeredwithquercetin,amoleculefoundincolorfulfruitandvegetables,hasbeenshowntostimulateapoptosis.Thisistheprocesswherebythebodyclearsoutcellsthathavestoppeddividing.These“senescent”cellsseemtopromotetheonsetofage-relateddiseasesandthere’sevidencethatremovingthemcanslowtheagingprocess.Ofthecurrentwaveofanti-agingstart-ups,manyofthosethatarenotfocusedoncellularreprogrammingarelookingatdevelopingtreatmentsthattargetsenescentcells.13Orconsiderrapamycin,animmunosuppressantdrugthathasdemonstratedasecondaryabilitytoincreaselifeexpectancy.Thedrugtargetsthebody’snutrient-sensingsystems,causingthemtobelieveitisinstarvationmodeandactivatingthelife-extendingprocessesthathelphumanssurviveonfewcalories.14Despitethepromisethatdrugrepurposingshows,itisessentialthatwegettoknowmoreabouthowthesedrugsaffecthumans.Thiswouldrequireenlistingalotofpeopletotakelowdosesofrapamycin,say,foralongperiod–andthentrackingmultipleoutputsbecausetherearesomanythingsthatcangowrongduringaging.Thisprocesswouldbeextremelyexpensiveandtime-consuming.15Whiletheprospectofrewindingbiologicalclocksoreradicatingage-relateddiseasesremainstantalizing,thetruepromiseoflongevityresearchliesnotinchasingimmortalitybutinredefiningaging.Bytargetingrootcauses,scienceisinchingclosertoafuturewhereextendedlifespansalignseamlesslywithsustainedhealthandvitality.Yet,thisjourneydemandsmorethantechnologicalbreakthroughs;itrequiresrigorousethicalscrutiny,equitableaccesstotherapies,andasocietalshifttowardprioritizinghealthspanovermerelifespan.Aswestandattheintersectionofbiologyandinnovation,onetruthemerges:Agingneednotbeastoryofdecline,butacollectiveendeavortoensurethatwearenotjustaddingyearstolife,butlifetoyears–andthatmaybehumanity’sgreatestexperimentyet.BackgroundinformationHealthyagingisdefinedbytheWorldHealthOrganization(2020)asthe“processofdevelopingandmaintainingthefunctionalabilitythatenableswell-beinginolderage.”Itemphasizestheupkeepofphysical,mental,andsocialcapabilitiesthroughoutlife,ratherthanjusttheabsenceofdisease,anditinvolvespreventivemeasures,lifestylechoices,andsupportiveenvironmentsforactive,meaningfullivesofolderadults.Lifespanisthemaximumsurvivaltimeofaspeciesinoptimalconditions,varyingregionallyduetohealthcare,diet,genes,etc.Healthspanisthelifeperiodwithgoodhealth,freefromdiseasesanddisabilities.Itfocusesonlifequality,emphasizingpositivewell-being,includingphysical,mental,andsocialaspects.Lifespanandhealthspanareintertwinedaspectsofhumanexistence,reflectingthedelicatebalancebetweenextendinglifeandmaintaininggoodhealth.Accordingly,healthyagingseekstonarrowthegapbetweenthetwo.rejuvenationn.[U]theactorprocessofmakingsb.lookorfeelyoungandenergeticagain恢复活力；回春longevity

n.[U](fml.)longlife;thefactoflastingalongtime长寿；长命；持久comeofageThephrase“comeofage”primarilymeansthatapersonreachesthelegalageofadulthood,atwhichpointtheygainfulllegalrightsandresponsibilities(suchasvotingandsigningcontracts).Itcanalsobeusedfigurativelytomeanthatanidea,movement,orthinghasmatured,developedfully,orbecomeacceptedorestablished.e.g.1)Inmanycountries,peoplecomeofageat18.2)CART-celltherapyhascomeofageinoncology,evolvingfromtheoreticalstudiestoclinicalapplications.pharma

n.[U]awayofreferringtothepharmaceuticalindustryandthecompaniesinvolvedinit

制药行业；制药公司osteoporosis

n.amedicalconditioninwhichyourbonesbecomeweakandbreakeasily骨质疏松（症）neurodegenerative

a.involvingthenervesgraduallystoppingworking神经组织退化的illhealth

n.[U]thepoorconditionofaperson’sbodyormind（身心）健康状况差；生病plastic

Theword“plastic”primarilydescribesmaterialsthatcanbeformedintomanydifferentshapes(e.g.,plasticclay).Anditisalsousedfigurativelyforthingseasilyaltered(e.g.,plasticplans).malleable

Theword“malleable”primarilydescribesmaterials(especiallymetals)thatcanbepressedorpulledintodifferentshapes(e.g.,malleablegold).Figuratively,itmeansbeingeasilyinfluenced(e.g.,amalleablemind).Similarwordsinclude:adaptable:abletoadjusttonewconditions(e.g.,adaptablespecies,adaptableemployees)

flexible:capableofbeingeasilybentwithoutphysicallybreaking(e.g.,flexiblewire);abletochangetosuitnewconditionsorsituations(e.g.,flexibleworkhours)modifiable:capableofbeingchangedorrevisedslightly(e.g.,modifiablesoftware,modifiabledesigns)embryon.[C]ananimalorhumanthathasnotyetbeenborn,andhasjustbeguntodevelop

胚；胚胎dasatinibn.

达沙替尼（一种酪氨酸激酶抑制剂）quercetin

n.[U]ayellowcrystallinepigmentpresentinplants,usedasafoodsupplementtoreduceallergicresponsesorboostimmunity

槲皮苷；栎皮酮apoptosisn.[U](also

programmedcelldeath)theprogrammeddeathofsomeofanorganism’scellsaspartofitsnaturalgrowthanddevelopment细胞凋亡senescenta.becomingoldandshowingtheeffectsofgettingolder

变老的；衰老的rapamycinn.雷帕霉素，纳巴霉素（一种抗真菌抗生素）secondaryTheword“secondary”heremeans“happeningasaresultofsth.else(间接引发的；继发性的；次生的).”e.g.Prolongedsteroid(类固醇)usemayleadtosecondaryosteoporosis,asitindirectlyimpairsboneformationbydisruptinghormonalbalance.Imagineaworldwherewecanslowdown,stall,orperhapsevenreverse,ourbiologicalclocks,wherea22-year-oldcanlookandfeelthatwayforlongeranda65-year-oldcanreturntheirmindandbodytoyouthonceagain.Scientistsbelievethisisnolongerapreposteroussuggestion.[Meaning]:Pictureaworldwherewecandelay,stop,orreversebiologicalaging–enablinga22-year-oldtoextendtheiryouthanda65-year-oldtoregainyouthfulfunction.Thisisnolongerseenbyscientistsasunrealistic.[Notes]:Theexpression“reverseourbiologicalclocks”isametaphor.Itcomparestheabstractconceptofbiologicalagingtoa“clock”–atangible,mechanicaldevicethatmeasuresanddisplaystime.Theword“reverse”suggestswemightactivelystoporevenundoaging–likephysicallyturningaclock’shandsbackwardtoanearliertime.Inthepassage,severalsimilarexpressionsareusedtoconveythesamemeaning:“turnback”thebiologicalclock,“rewind”thebiologicalclock,and“windback”thebiologicalclock.“Ourunderstandingofaginghascomeofage,”saysoneexpertattheUCLInstituteofHealthyAgeing.[Notes]:Thissentenceisawitty,concisepun.Itnotonlydescribesthematurityof“agingresearch”itself,butalsoechoesthethemeofaging.Amonghumanity’sgreatsuccessesistheextensionofhumanlife.[Meaning]:Oneofhumans’biggestachievementsismakingpeoplelivelonger.[Structure&Grammar]:Thisisaninvertedsentenceandthenormalwordorderis:Theextensionofhumanlifeisamonghumanity’sgreatsuccesses.Invertedsentencesaretypicallyusedtoachievespecificeffects:emphasizingaparticularelement,balancingsentencestructure(especiallywhenthesubjectislong),adaptingtoformalgenressuchasacademicwritingorspeeches,etc.Byplacing“Amonghumanity’sgreatsuccesses”atthefront,theinvertedstructurecreatessuspense,directingthereader’sfocusto“theextensionofhumanlife”asoneofthedefiningachievements.Butindoingsowe’vehighlightedhowmuchourbodiesdegradeovertime.​

[Notes]:Inthissentence,“so”refersto“theextensionofhumanlife”thatismentionedinthepreviousparagraph.Theword“degrade”heremeans“becomeweakerandlesshealthy.”Ofthecurrentwaveofanti-agingstart-ups,manyofthosethatarenotfocusedoncellularreprogrammingarelookingatdevelopingtreatmentsthattargetsenescentcells.​

[Meaning]:Amongcurrentanti-agingstart-ups,manydonotfocusoncellularreprogrammingandareinsteaddevelopingtreatmentsthattargetsenescentcells.[Notes]:Theword“wave”heremeans“alargenumberofpeopleorthingssuddenlymovingorappearingsomewhere(涌现的人[或事物]).”Whiletheprospectofrewindingbiologicalclocksoreradicatingage-relateddiseasesremainstantalizing,thetruepromiseoflongevityresearchliesnotinchasingimmortalitybutinredefiningaging.​

[Meaning]:Althoughtheideaofreversingagingoreliminatingage-relatedillnessesishighlyappealing,therealgoaloflongevityresearchisnottopursueeternallife,butrathertotransformourunderstandingofagingitself.Agingneednotbeastoryofdecline,butacollectiveendeavortoensurethatwearenotjustaddingyearstolife,butlifetoyears–andthatmaybehumanity’sgreatestexperimentye