A fresh European study suggests that a daily serving of high-fat cheese could reduce the likelihood of developing dementia.
Study Overview
Researchers published their findings on Dec. 17 in the journal Neurology, drawing on data from nearly 28,000 Swedish adults. The dietary information was collected in the 1990s, while health records-including dementia diagnoses-spanned roughly the last decade. The study was observational, comparing long-term health outcomes with earlier reported food habits.
Key Findings
The analysis revealed that individuals who ate 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese each day had a lower risk of dementia than those who consumed less than 15 grams. Similarly, those who reported eating 20 grams or more of high-fat cream daily also showed a reduced risk compared with people who abstained from cream entirely.
These results were consistent across a subset of the cohort, where researchers examined whether participants’ eating habits had shifted over time. The subset analysis helped address concerns that dietary patterns might have changed during the follow-up period.
Expert Perspective
Senior study author Emily Sonestedt of Lund University in Sweden explained the significance of the findings to CNN: “Our research suggests that people who ate more high-fat cheese had a slightly lower risk of developing dementia later in life,” she said. “This does not prove that cheese prevents dementia, but it does challenge the idea that all high-fat dairy is bad for the brain.”
Sonestedt emphasized that the study does not establish a causal link, but it does question long-standing assumptions about high-fat dairy and brain health.
Context on Dairy and Health
Foods high in fat have long been associated with increased levels of “bad cholesterol,” which can raise the risk of strokes or heart attacks. In contrast, the study found that lower-fat dairy options-such as cheese, cream, and milk-were not linked to a lower dementia risk. The researchers noted that these findings do not support a blanket recommendation for high-fat dairy consumption.
Study Limitations
One obvious limitation is the reliance on dietary data that may have changed over the years. While the researchers performed a subset analysis to gauge potential shifts, the primary data remained from the 1990s. The observational nature of the study also means that other factors could influence dementia risk.
Broader Implications
The research adds a nuanced layer to the conversation about dairy products and cognitive health. Rather than dismissing high-fat cheese outright, the findings suggest that it may not be as detrimental for brain health as previously thought. Nonetheless, the study stops short of recommending increased cheese intake.
Takeaway Points
- High-fat cheese consumption of 50 g/day or more was linked to a lower dementia risk.
- Consuming 20 g/day or more of high-fat cream also showed a protective association.
- The study does not prove causation and acknowledges limitations in dietary data.
Final Thoughts
While the results are intriguing, the researchers caution against over-interpreting the data. Future studies will need to confirm these associations and explore underlying mechanisms. For now, the study invites a reconsideration of how high-fat dairy is viewed in the context of cognitive health.
