According to a study published in 2007, soy products can substantially improve cognitive performance among postmenopausal women. Over the last five years, many people have accepted that claim at face value. However, a more recent study sponsored by the U.S. National Institutes of Health has shown that may not be the case.
Dr. Victor Henderson, a professor of health research at Stanford, led the recent study. Henderson concluded that soy products provide no benefit to cognitive performance to this demographic whatsoever.
The study was published in Neurology. Henderson and his team followed over 300 women aged 45-92. Each subject was either given soy protein or milk protein every day. The women were given a variety of tests to follow their cognitive abilities at beginning of the study and its conclusion two and a half years later. The test focused primarily on assessing the subjects’ memories.
The study found that there was no difference in performance between the two groups in the study. However, a second analysis was conducted, which found the women taking daily doses of soy proteins performed better at the end of the study.
Despite the conclusion drawn at the end of the study, Henderson maintained his stance. He said that if soy products helped improve cognitive performance, the study would have indicated that with the initial analysis.
The results of this study contradicted previous studies which suggested that soy products helped with decision-making and planning. Some experts want additional research to be conducted to assess the accuracy of Henderson’s findings.
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