Impairment of the ability of the injured aged brain in elevating urate and ascorbate.

Urate and ascorbate play a major role in the defense mechanism of the brain against oxidative damage induced by traumatic brain injury. The severity and extent of brain damage are known to increase with age. This may be due to different basal levels of endogenous antioxidants, and/or to impaired ability of the old brain to recruit and elevate the levels of antioxidants following injury.