Attenuation of neurodegeneration-relevant modifications of brain proteins by dietary soy.
Epidemiological studies show that postmenopausal women who undertake estrogen-replacement therapy have significantly lower risk for the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) than women who do not. Animal behavior studies have shown that ovariectomy results in the development of cognitive dysfunction that is prevented by estrogen-replacement, suggesting that normal mammalian cognitive function is impaired by estrogen reduction. Soy isoflavones in particular genistein have been demonstrated to have weak and selective estrogenic actions in various models of human chronic diseases. A hallmark of several human dementias including AD and fronto temporal dementia with Parkinsonism on chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) is the hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Preliminary experiments are discussed here which show that isoflavones delivered in a soy protein matrix attenuated selected AD-relevant tau phosphorylations in a primate model of menopause. The rationale is discussed for the use of soy-based foods for protection against postmenopausal neurodegeneration.
Kim
H
H
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology and the UAB Center for Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294-0019, USA. helenkim@uab.edu
Xia
H
H
Li
L
L
Gewin
J
J
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017698:Postmenopause; D030262:Soybean Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D004967:Estrogens; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D016875:tau Proteins; D019833:Genistein