This is a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel designed, proof-of-concept phase 2 clinical trial to determine effect of PhytoSERM in regional brain metabolism, cognition and vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women. PhytoSERM or placebo pills will be administered orally once a week over 24 weeks. Safety and tolerability will also be assessed over the duration of the study.~To determine eligibility, all participants will undergo cognitive assessment, physical and neurological examination, imaging scans, electrocardiogram (ECG), clinical/safety laboratory assessment, and interviews. After a 2-4-week screening period, participants will be randomized to study intervention (PhytoSERM 50mg administered orally, once per day) or matching placebo, in a 1:1 allocation. Brain imaging to evaluate the primary endpoint (standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) by FDG-PET) will be conducted at screening and 24 weeks (6 months). Study participants will be asked to complete a total of 7 study visits. All participants will be enrolled at a single site, at the Alzheimer's Prevention Program (APP) at Weill Cornell Medical Centre (WCMC, New York).~This study protocol will include an embedded single-dose, 24-hour pharmacokinetic (PK) study in a subset of 12 participants which will begin after the first dose of the study intervention.
This is a proof-of-concept phase 2 clinical trial to investigate the safety and effect of the phytoestrogenic supplement PhytoSERM on regional brain metabolism by fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) in peri- and postmenopausal women. The investigators hypothesize that there will be a significant difference between the PhytoSERM group and placebo group in glucose brain metabolism.