Isoflavones May Reduce Alzheimer's Risk in Menopausal Women

Isoflavones May Reduce Alzheimer's Risk in Menopausal Women

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--Research presented at the American Chemical Society meeting April 3 showed that soy isoflavones may lower the incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers, led by Helen Kim at the University of Alabama, fed one of three diets to female monkeys whose ovaries had been surgically removed: soy withisoflavones, soy without isoflavones or the estrogen-replacement therapy (EST)Premarin, manufactured by American Home Products Corp. After a three-year period, data taken from samples of the monkeys' brain tissue showedisoflavone-rich soy, and not EST, may have attenuated the disease. The researchers hypothesized that estrogen-like isoflavones may offer a different mechanism of action than estrogen in protecting the brain against Alzheimer's. In a phone interview with the media outlet Reuters, Kim stated that there is some evidence that menopausal women who do not use EST are at a greater risk for Alzheimer's. For additional information, visitwww.acs.org.