非处方药或存在严重副作用
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicine is a common part of our lives. Many of us go into the local drugstores quickly for cold and headache tablets(药片), cough syrups or allergy treatments. Over-the-counter drugs save the need to go to the doctor’s. However, we may be causing ourselves more harm than good with these convenient cures.
A new study published in the journal JAMA Neurology suggests that many of these handy medicines have unwanted, and sometimes serious, side effects. Researchers say that such side effects in older adults who often take widely available OTC medicines for asthma, aches and pains, insomnia and allergies, etc. include cognitive impairment(认知损害), dementia and even brain shrinkage.
The study was organized by the Indiana University School of Medicine. Researchers examined the link between OTC medications and cognition in “cognitively normal” older people who did not have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. The scientists found that OTC drugs led to a lower glucose metabolism(糖代谢), which is very important for the brain to be healthy and function properly.
Dr. Shannon Risacher said, “These findings provide us with a much better understanding of how this class of drugs may act upon the brain in ways that might raise the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.” She added, “I certainly wouldn’t say yes to my grandparents or even my parents when they want to take these medications unless they have to.”
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1.Why do many people go to drugstores rather than hospitals?
A Medicines in drugstores are cheaper.
B They may live far away from hospitals.
C It saves time and medicines are easy to get.
D Drugs in hospitals cause harm to people’s health.
解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第一段可知非处方药使我们不必要去看医生，它非常方便，故选 C。
2.OTC medicines have the following side effects EXCEPT _________.
A dementia
B brain shrinkage
C cognitive impairment
D insomnia and allergies
解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句可知，老年人经常需要的治疗哮喘(asthma)、疼痛、失眠 (insomnia)和过敏(allergies)的非处方药，包含了认知损害、痴呆(dementia)和脑萎缩(brain shrinkage)在内的副作用。故选 D。
3.What’s the link between OTC medications and cognition?
A OTC medicines bring us a more healthy brain.
B OTC medicines do harm to our glucose metabolism.
C OTC medicines is important for our brain function
D OTC medicines make people cognitively abnormal.
解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据第三段最后一句可知，非处方药会导致较低的糖代谢，而糖代谢对保持大脑的健康和功能正常十分重要，说明糖代谢的降低对大脑的健康和功能有不利的影响。故选 D。
4.What would Shannon Risacher most probably do if her father wants OTC medicines?
A Always help him get some.
B Refuse his request directly.
C Offer some when necessary.
D It is not mentioned
解析：选C。C 推 理 判 断 题 。 根 据 最 后 一 段 “I certainly wouldn’t say yes to my grandparents or even my parents when they want to take these medications unless they have to.”可知作者不会让家人服用非处方药，除非迫不得已。故选 C。
5.Where does the passage probably come from?
A A science magazine.
B A fashion magazine.
C A health magazine.
D An education magazine.
解析：选C。C 文章出处题。根据全文可知，文章围绕非处方药对人体健康有副作用展开，属于健康话题，故最有可能出现在健康杂志上。故选 C。