Drug Development.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a growing global health concern, projected to triple by 2050.
• Genistein, a phytoestrogen, exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, showing potential in AD therapeutics.
• Investigating genistein's efficacy in the prodromal phase of AD is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review randomized clinical trials on genistein's effects in prodromal Alzheimer's disease.
• To evaluate genistein's impact on cognitive function and amyloid-beta deposition.
• To assess the current evidence for genistein as a therapeutic agent in early AD.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) from Medline and Lilacs databases.
• Search terms: "Genistein" AND "Alzheimer's disease", limited to English/Spanish, last 15 years.
• Inclusion criteria: RCTs in prodromal AD patients; risk of bias assessed using RoB 2.0.

Main Results:

• Three RCTs were evaluated.
• Genistein treatment did not increase beta-amyloid uptake in the anterior cingulate gyrus compared to placebo.
• Genistein was associated with preserved cognitive functions, including verbal learning and executive function.

Conclusions:

• Genistein shows potential in improving cognitive function and reducing beta-amyloid deposition in prodromal AD.
• Limitations include small sample sizes and dosage variability, impacting generalizability.
• Larger trials with standardized protocols are necessary to validate genistein's efficacy in AD.