中國原創阿爾茨海默症新藥獲批，老年癡呆症有新希望
Authorities in China have approved a drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, the first new medicine with the potential to treat the cognitive disorder in 17 years.
中國有關部門已批准一種治療阿爾茨海默症的藥物，這是17年來首個可能對這種認知障礙有治療效果的新藥。
The seaweed-based drug, called Oligomannate, can be used for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's, according to a statement from China's drug safety agency.
中國藥品安全監督管理局發表的一份聲明顯示，這個被稱爲甘露特鈉膠囊的海藻類藥物可以用於治療輕度至中度的阿爾茨海默症。
The approval is conditional however, meaning that while it can go on sale during additional clinical trials, it will be strictly monitored and could be withdrawn should any safety issues arise.
然而，批准是有條件的，雖然它可以在額外的臨牀試驗期間上市銷售，但將受到嚴格監督，如果出現任何安全問題，可能會被撤回。
In September, the team behind the new drug, led by Geng Meiyu at the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said they were inspired to look into seaweed due to the relatively low incidence of Alzheimer's among people who consume it regularly.
這一新藥的研究團隊由中國科學院上海藥物研究所的耿美玉帶領，他們在九月份說受到啓發研究海藻是因爲經常食用海藻的人中阿爾茨海默症的發病率相對較低。
In a paper in the journal Cell Research, Geng's team described how a sugar contained within seaweed suppresses certain bacteria contained in the gut which can cause neural degeneration and inflammation of the brain, leading to Alzheimer's.
耿美玉的團隊在《Cell Research》雜誌的一篇論文中描述了海藻中的糖如何抑制腸道中某些細菌的，這些細菌會導致神經退化和大腦炎症，從而導致老年癡呆。
This mechanism was confirmed during a clinical trial carried out by Green Valley, a Shanghai-based pharmaceutical company that will be bringing the new drug to market.
這一機制在上海的綠谷製藥公司進行的臨牀試驗中得到了證實，該公司將把這種新藥推向市場。
Conducted on 818 patients, the trial found that Oligomannate -- which is derived from brown algae -- can statistically improve cognitive function among people with Alzheimer's in as little as four weeks, according to a statement from Green Valley.
綠谷製藥公司發佈的聲明中說，對818位病人進行的臨牀試驗發現從統計數據來看，用褐藻提取物製成的甘露特鈉膠囊在短短四周內就能改善老年癡呆人羣的認知功能。
"These results advance our understanding of the mechanisms that play a role in Alzheimer's disease and imply that the gut microbiome is a valid target for the development of therapies," neurologist Philip Scheltens, who advises Green Valley and heads the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, said in the statement.
神經學家Philip Scheltens是綠谷製藥公司顧問，也是阿姆斯特丹阿爾茨海默症中心負責人，他在聲明中說：“這些結果促進了我們對阿爾茨海默症發病機制的理解，並暗示腸道微生物羣是治療發展的有效靶點。”
