Oxidative stress is an important factor in brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. This problem happens when there are too many free radicals and not enough antioxidants in the body, which can harm our cells.

How Oxidative Stress Affects Brain Cells:

1. Energy Problems:

   • Brain cells, also called neurons, need a lot of energy to work well. They get this energy from tiny parts of the cell called mitochondria. When there is oxidative stress, these mitochondria don't work as well. This means the neurons produce less ATP, which is what they need to function properly.

2. Protein Damage:

   • Too many reactive oxygen species (ROS) can hurt proteins in our body. This can change how these proteins work. For instance, this damage can lead to the build-up of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Inflammation:

   • Oxidative stress can also cause inflammation in the brain, making the damage to neurons worse. In Parkinson's disease, this inflammation happens when certain cells in the brain become active in response to oxidative stress. This can lead to even more loss of brain cells.

By understanding how oxidative stress works, we can see why antioxidants might help in reducing the damage caused by these brain diseases.