Eating Full-Fat Cheese and Cream Linked to Lower Dementia Risk

Eating full-fat cheese and cream may be linked to a lower risk of developing dementia, according to a long-term study from Sweden published in the journal Neurology. The research followed 27,670 adults in Sweden, who were an average age of 58 at the start of the study, for around 25 years.

During this period, 3,208 participants were diagnosed with dementia. Results showed that individuals consuming at least 50 grams of high-fat cheese per day, roughly two slices of cheddar, had a 13 percent lower risk of dementia than those consuming less than 15 grams daily.

High-fat cheeses were defined as containing more than 20 percent fat, while high-fat creams typically contained 30 to 40 percent fat. Emily Sonestedt, a nutrition epidemiologist at Lund University in Sweden and the study's lead author, noted a 29 percent lower risk of vascular dementia in those who ate more full-fat cheese.

Daily consumption of high-fat cream was also associated with a lower dementia risk, with those consuming at least 20 grams per day having a 16 percent lower risk compared to non-consumers. However, not all dairy products showed the same benefits; other dairy products and low-fat alternatives did not exhibit a similar effect on brain health.

Experts caution that the study does not prove a causal relationship between high-fat dairy and reduced dementia risk. Dr. Richard Oakley from the Alzheimer's Society emphasized that lifestyle factors such as physical activity, a balanced diet, quitting smoking, and moderating alcohol intake are more significant in reducing dementia risk.

Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of Edinburgh's Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, highlighted the limitation that participants' diets were only measured once, 25 years before dementia diagnoses were analyzed, suggesting that overall lifestyle is essential for brain health.