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What Type of Cheese May Reduce Dementia Risk?
Eating high-fat cheese and high-fat cream may be linked to a lower risk of developing dementia, according to a new study in Neurology from Lund University in Sweden.
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Researchers analyzed data from 27,670 people in Sweden for roughly 25 years, with the average age of 58 at the start of the study. Study participants tracked their diets weekly and reported how much of certain foods they ate in recent years, as well as how their food was prepared.
Researchers compared participants who ate 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese (or about two slices of cheddar of half a cup of shredded cheese) every day to participants who ate less than 15 grams daily. The results were somewhat surprising, but not too staggering: About 10% of participants who ate more high-fat cheese daily developed dementia, while 13% of those who ate less high-fat cheese every day developed dementia.
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Does High-Fat Cheese Show a Link to Reduced Alzheimer’s Risk in the Study?
Related: How to Tell If You're Eating Too Much Dairy
"These findings suggest that when it comes to brain health, not all dairy is equal," Dr. Sonestedt explains. "While eating more high-fat cheese and cream was linked to a reduced risk of dementia, other dairy products and low-fat alternatives did not show the same effect. More research is needed to confirm our study results and further explore whether consuming certain high-fat dairy truly offers some level of protection for the brain."
Should We All Be Eating More High-Fat Cheese and Cream To Reduce Dementia Risk?
Not so fast, Brie brains. Neurologists and doctors specializing in brain health warn against diving headfirst into full-fat dairy just because you like this news.
That matters, he explains, because dementia is a slow-moving disease, and studies that follow people for long periods are far more informative than short snapshots. "What stands out is that the association between higher intake of full-fat cheese and lower dementia risk, particularly vascular dementia, persisted even after adjusting for multiple lifestyle and cardiovascular factors. That suggests the signal is not trivial or easily dismissed as noise."
While Dr. Bhandari advises against adding full-fat cheese as a dementia prevention strategy, he is increasingly comfortable reassuring patients that moderate amounts of full-fat cheese can reasonably fit into a brain-healthy diet, particularly when it is consumed alongside vegetables, whole foods, and healthy fats, and when blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and metabolic health are well-controlled.
Dr. Bhandari isn't alone in his assessment.
Dr. Majid Fotuhi, MD, PhD., neurologist and author of The Invincible Brain: The Clinically Proven Plan to Age-Proof Your Brain and Stay Sharp for Life, says to approach the study results with a healthy level of skepticism.
Related: Doing This One Thing Every Day Could Lower Your Risk of Dementia, According to a Cleveland Clinic Neuropsychologist
"The strongest and most reproducible evidence supports diets that protect vascular health, reduce chronic inflammation and maintain metabolic stability over time," he says. "This is why Mediterranean and MIND-style eating patterns repeatedly show associations with slower cognitive decline and lower dementia risk across large human studies."
Dr. Fortuhi says that supplements may also have long-term brain health benefits, although it's important to talk to your doctor before starting a supplement regimen.
Related: This Is the One Nutrient Neurologists Say Most People Over 50 Don’t Get Enough Of
Aside From Diet, How Else Can We Help Prevent Dementia and Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk?
"Dementia risk is shaped gradually over decades, and many of the most powerful interventions involve protecting brain health long before any symptoms appear," Dr. Bhandari says. "Controlling blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and weight; staying physically active; prioritizing high-quality sleep; treating sleep apnea when present; avoiding smoking; limiting alcohol and maintaining cognitive and social engagement all show meaningful associations with healthier brain aging."
Related: The Actually Fun Exercise Type That Will Give Your Brain Health a Boost
Exercise and cardiovascular fitness: 10/10Sleep: 9/10Stress reduction: 9/10Mediterranean-style diet: 8/10Challenging your brain (learning, novelty, cognitive engagement): 7/10
Dr. Trinh also points out the importance of three often-overlooked issues that can each exacerbate and accelerate cognitive decline: "It's crucial to address hearing loss, vision loss and depression."
"What is increasingly clear is that brain health should be approached as a long-term, evolving process rather than a one-time assessment," he explains. "Neurodegenerative diseases develop quietly and gradually, often many years before memory problems become noticeable. Following brain function over time allows clinicians and patients to identify subtle changes earlier, personalize interventions, and adjust course while there is still a meaningful opportunity to do so."
Related: This Type of Cheese Is Surprisingly Good for Your Teeth, Dentists Say
Sources
Dr. Hanul Bhandari, MDDr. Majid Fotuhi, MD, PhD.Dr. Dung Trinh, MDOne third of dementia cases can be prevented within the next 25 years by tackling risk factors. The case “for” and “against.” Alzheimer's Research & Therapy. "High- and Low-Fat Dairy Consumption and Long-Term Risk of Dementia: Evidence From a 25-Year Prospective Cohort Study." Neurology..Hence then, the article about this type of cheese could lower some types of dementia risk by 29 experts say was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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