Oxidative Agents and Alzheimer's Disease

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Oxidative agents, commonly referred to as "free radicals" in popular media, is an umbrella term for substances which react with others.

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In relation to Alzheimer's, the oxidative agent is often a molecule which reacts and changes other molecules in the brain. This process can cause damage by causing physical damage to the nerve cells of the brain or by destroying chemicals or nutrients that the brain needs to function.

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Anti-oxidants function by stopping these harmful oxidative agents before they can cause damage.