A mathematical model of the effects of ascorbic acid on the onset of neurodegenerative diseases

Several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Huntington’s Disease (HD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as well as ischemic strokes all show signs of excess oxidative stress due to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The author here posits here that ascorbic acid (AA), commonly known as Vitamin C, can help prevent such neurodegenerative disorders. The author proposes a mathematical model that captures the biochemical dynamics between AA, dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), and ROS in the brain and performs simulations under control and neurodegenerative disease situations. Then, a variety of treatments using AA and DHA were proposed and simulated to examine their efficacy.