| Vitamin C intake is often used to treat the common | | | | suggest that Vitamin C's "neuroprotective effects" |
| cold but there is recent evidence to suggest that this | | | | may extend to the prevention of other neurological |
| antioxidant vitamin might also be beneficial for the | | | | diseases such as Alzheimer disease. |
| prevention of Alzheimer's disease. The history of | | | | The improvement in immune function attributed to |
| Vitamin C's use for medicinal purposes began in the | | | | Vitamin C intake demonstrates the ability of this |
| mid 1500's when sailors realized that a tincture of tea | | | | antioxidant to combat other age-related diseases. |
| made from a tree bark helped to combat the nasty | | | | Recently, an experimental form of Vitamin C with the |
| effects of scurvy; a degenerative condition that | | | | ability to cross the blood-brain barrier has been |
| results from a lack of fruits and vegetables (in other | | | | shown to reduce age-related neurological deficits. This |
| words, a Vitamin C deficiency). This disease was | | | | is why scientists claim that Vitamin C intake may |
| common in sailors on long voyages at sea. | | | | have the ability to treat many of the problems |
| In animal models, Vitamin C intake has been shown | | | | associated with Alzheimer's disease. |
| to reduce the effects of lead-induced nerve damage. | | | | The prevention of Alzheimer's disease and the use of |
| Similarly, human experiments involving high doses of | | | | Vitamin C intake and other antioxidants to treat |
| the vitamin in adult smokers has shown to reduce | | | | these conditions is still in the initial stages. Only time |
| blood lead levels by an average of 81% with doses | | | | will tell if these safe and economically viable |
| of 1000mg per day. Based on the fact that lead is | | | | antioxidant treatment options will prove to be |
| known to cause neurological impairment, researchers | | | | effective. |