TY - JOUR
T1 - Borobudur revisited
T2 - Soy consumption may be associated with better recall in younger, but not in older, rural Indonesian elderly
AU - Hogervorst, Eef
AU - Mursjid, Fidiansjah
AU - Priandini, Dewi
AU - Setyawan, Henry
AU - Ismael, Raden Irawati
AU - Bandelow, Stephan
AU - Rahardjo, Tri Budi
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the Alzheimer's Research Trust ; the University of Diponegoro, Semarang ; University of Indonesia ; and Loughborough University, UK .
PY - 2011/3/16
Y1 - 2011/3/16
N2 - Previous reports have suggested that high frequent tofu consumption is associated with worse cognitive function in East Asian elderly. Some studies also found an increased risk of dementia with high tofu consumption in those older than 65 years of age. Tofu and other soy products, such as tempeh, contain high levels of plant estrogens or isoflavones. This study revisited a rural Central Javanese population (56-97 years of age) who were covered by the Borobudur District Health Centers. Data on cognitive performance were available for n = 142 participants. Results showed positive linear associations of weekly tofu (beta = .22, p < 0.05) and tempeh (beta = .23, p < 0.01) consumption with immediate recall, which were significant in those with an average age of 67 years. In those with an average age of 80 years, the earlier reported negative association of tofu with immediate recall was no longer significant. Lifestyle changes (reduction of tofu consumption after dissemination of results) or "healthy survivor effects" may have been responsible for this finding. These findings may be reminiscent of the "Window of Opportunity" theory, which suggests that estrogenic compounds can exert positive effects on verbal memory, but not in older men and women, when no or negative effects of these compounds on brain cells and cognition have been found. Long-term, placebo-controlled treatment studies should investigate whether tempeh, a fermented soybean product that also contains folate, can maintain cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly participants. Crown
AB - Previous reports have suggested that high frequent tofu consumption is associated with worse cognitive function in East Asian elderly. Some studies also found an increased risk of dementia with high tofu consumption in those older than 65 years of age. Tofu and other soy products, such as tempeh, contain high levels of plant estrogens or isoflavones. This study revisited a rural Central Javanese population (56-97 years of age) who were covered by the Borobudur District Health Centers. Data on cognitive performance were available for n = 142 participants. Results showed positive linear associations of weekly tofu (beta = .22, p < 0.05) and tempeh (beta = .23, p < 0.01) consumption with immediate recall, which were significant in those with an average age of 67 years. In those with an average age of 80 years, the earlier reported negative association of tofu with immediate recall was no longer significant. Lifestyle changes (reduction of tofu consumption after dissemination of results) or "healthy survivor effects" may have been responsible for this finding. These findings may be reminiscent of the "Window of Opportunity" theory, which suggests that estrogenic compounds can exert positive effects on verbal memory, but not in older men and women, when no or negative effects of these compounds on brain cells and cognition have been found. Long-term, placebo-controlled treatment studies should investigate whether tempeh, a fermented soybean product that also contains folate, can maintain cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly participants. Crown
KW - Dementia
KW - Isoflavones
KW - Memory
KW - Phytoestrogens
KW - Soy
KW - Window of Opportunity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79952316978&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.10.083
DO - 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.10.083
M3 - Article
C2 - 21035431
AN - SCOPUS:79952316978
SN - 0006-8993
VL - 1379
SP - 206
EP - 212
JO - Brain Research
JF - Brain Research
ER -