Background: Dementia is a neurological disorder that is manifested by impairment of one or more cognitive abilities which is severe enough to interfere with daily living. The current work aims to determine how caveolin-1, NSD2 which stands for nuclear receptor binding SET domain protein 2, cellular senescence and scopolamine induced dementia are related. It also seeks to clarify how genistein protects against scopolamine induced dementia.

Methods: The 40 male mice used in this study were separated into four groups. Each group comprised ten mice: group I was used as the control group, group II represented the scopolamine group, group III was designated as the genistein/scopolamine group; and group IV represented the donepezil/scopolamine group. Also, caveolin-1, NSD2 levels, beta galactosidase activity in brain tissue homogenates and serum sialic acid level were measured.

Results: In comparison to the control group, scopolamine group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in serum sialic acid, caveolin-1 levels and activity of senescence associated beta galactosidase as well as a significant decrease in NSD2 level and the discrimination index of object location recognition test. There was a statistically significant reduction of caveolin-1, serum sialic acid levels and senescence-associated beta galactosidase activity concomitantly with a significant increase in NSD2 level and discrimination index in genistein/scopolamine group and donepezil/scopolamine group as compared to scopolamine group.

Conclusion: These elaborated data signified that cellular senescence, caveolin-1, NSD2 and sialic acid are key players in the pathophysiology of dementia. The neuroprotective effect of genistein against this illness was also demonstrated by this study.