Phyto-estrogènes et le déclin mnésique hippocampo-dépendant lié à l'âge

Estrogens are neurotrophic and neuroprotective compounds. They originate from peripheral and cerebral sources. Hippocampus expresses nuclear and membrane estrogen receptors mediating dendritic spine development, synaptic plasticity and preventing elevation of intracellular Ca++ concentrations. This review examines clinical, animal and in vitro data consistently showing a preventive effect of estrogens on hippocampus-dependent memory decline with ageing. It gives a definition of phytoestrogens and presents the main data obtained in that area with these compounds. The data are consistent with those obtained with estradiol with positive and negative effects, even though the literature is scarcer. Phytoestrogens not always exhibit all estradiol-modulating effects on estrogen receptors. Several specific molecules can therefore be considered as Selected Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) and appear to be good neuro-SERMs candidates for the dietary prevention of hippocampus-dependant memory decline with ageing.