百善笑為先-愛笑俱樂部

◎鄭寺音

Men with symmetrical faces are less likely to lose their memory and intelligence in later life, according to researchers. Psychologists at the University of Edinburgh found a link between facial symmetry and mental performance between the ages of 79 and 83.

根據研究人員，臉型對稱的人比較不會在晚年喪失記憶與智力。英國愛丁堡大學的心理學家發現，79到83歲之間，臉部對稱與心智表現有關聯。

The researchers analysed results of the 1932 Scottish Mental Survey and mapped the faces of subjects from photographs. They said it could show a link between physical condition and mental decline.

研究人員分析1932份蘇格蘭心智調查結果，從照片描繪樣本的臉部。他們說，這樣可以顯示身體狀況與心智衰退的關聯。

Facial symmetry, the researchers argued, may indicate a man has experienced fewer genetic and environmental disturbances such as diseases, toxins, malnutrition or genetic mutations during his development.

研究人員認為，臉部對稱可能指出一個人在發育時，經歷過較少的基因與環境干擾，比方說疾病、毒素、營養不足或是基因變異。

Dr Lars Penke, who led the study, said： "Previous research has suggested that cognitive decline is an aspect of body-wide ageing. This link could show that facial symmetry can be used as a marker which could predict this decline."

領導這份研究的潘奇博士說：「過去的研究顯示，認知衰退是身體老化的其中一面。這種關聯可能顯示，臉部對稱可被用為預測這項衰退的指標。」

The team was unable to find comparable results in women. One explanation suggested by the researchers was that DNA has a different effect on ageing among women. Another theory was that mental decline is delayed in women because, on average, they live longer.

團隊並未發現女性有類似的結果，研究人員提出的其中一個解釋是，DNA對女性的老化有不同影響，另一個理論是，女性因為平均壽命較長，延緩心智衰退。

新聞辭典

decline：名詞／動詞，衰退。例句：Home cooking seems to be on the/in decline.（在家開伙的人似乎漸漸減少。）

symmetrical：形容詞，對稱的。名詞為symmetry。

malnutrition：名詞，營養不良。例句：Many of the refugees are suffering from severe malnutrition.（許多難民有嚴重的營養不良。