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. 2023 Jul 5;33(7):342-349.
doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20210199. Epub 2022 Apr 15.

Midlife Intakes of the Isoflavone Genistein and Soy and the Risk of Late-life Cognitive Impairment: The JPHC Saku Mental Health Study

Thomas Svensson  1   2   3   4   5 , Norie Sawada  1 , Masaru Mimura  2 , Shoko Nozaki  2 , Ryo Shikimoto  2 , Shoichiro Tsugane  1
Affiliations

Midlife Intakes of the Isoflavone Genistein and Soy and the Risk of Late-life Cognitive Impairment: The JPHC Saku Mental Health Study

Thomas Svensson et al. J Epidemiol. .

Abstract

Background: The number of people with cognitive impairment, including dementia, in the world is steadily increasing. Although the consumption of isoflavones and soy is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, it might also be associated with cognitive impairment. The low number of studies investigating the association between soy/isoflavone intake and cognitive function warrant additional research.

Methods: The Japan Public Health Center-based prospective (JPHC) Study is a large population-based cohort. Midlife dietary intake of soy and the isoflavone genistein was assessed on two occasions: in the years 1995 and 2000. In 2014-2015, 1,299 participants from Nagano prefecture completed a mental health screening. Of these, a total of 1,036 participants were included in analyses. Logistic regression was used to determine Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) for the association between midlife energy-adjusted genistein and soy food intake and cognitive impairment.

Results: There were 392 cases of cognitive impairment (346 cases of MCI and 46 cases of dementia). Compared to the lowest dietary quartile of energy-adjusted genistein intake, the highest quartile was significantly associated with cognitive impairment (OR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.02-2.24; P for trend = 0.03) in the final multivariable analysis.

Conclusion: High midlife intake of the isoflavone genistein is associated with late-life cognitive impairment.

Keywords: dementia; general population cohort; isoflavones; late-life; midlife; mild cognitive impairment; soy foods.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: TS, NS, SN, RS, and ST declare no conflicts of interest. MM declares having received grants from Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, Pfizer, Shionogi, Takeda, Tanabe Mitsubishi and Tsumura, and payment or honoraria from Byer Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo, Dainippon-Sumitomo Pharma, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Fuji Film RI Pharma, Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical, Janssen Pharmaceutical, Kyowa Pharmaceutical, Mochida Pharmaceutical, MSD, Mylan EPD, Nihon Medi-physics, Nippon Chemipher, Novartis Pharma, Ono Yakuhin, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Santen Pharmaceutical, Shire Japan, Takeda Yakuhin, Tsumura, and Yoshitomi Yakuhin.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Flowchart for the inclusion and exclusion of study participants
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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