MALMÖ, Sweden (WHN) – Eating high-fat cheese is associated with a lower risk of all forms of dementia, according to a long-term study published in the journal *Neurology*. The research followed 27,670 Swedes over approximately 25 years.
Participants were 61 percent female, with an average age of 58.1 years at the study’s start between 1991 and 1996. The study built upon the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort, initially established to examine nutrition and cancer links.
Dietary intake was assessed via a seven-day food diary, a food frequency questionnaire, and interviews. Dementia cases were identified through the Swedish National Patient Register up to December 31, 2020. Researchers examined all-cause dementia, encompassing Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and other conditions.
The study reported that consuming 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese daily correlates with a reduced dementia risk. High-fat cheeses contain over 20 percent fat. Examples include cheddar, brie, parmesan, mozzarella, and gruyere.
Specifically, the risk of developing dementia was approximately 10 percent for individuals eating 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese daily. This compares to about 13 percent for those consuming less than 15 grams per day.
Adjustments for age, sex, education, and overall diet were made. Those eating over 50 grams of high-fat cheese daily showed a 13 percent lower all-cause dementia risk than those eating under 15 grams.
“Our study found that some high-fat dairy products may actually lower the risk of dementia,” stated nutrition epidemiologist Emily Sonestedt of Sweden’s Lund University. Sonestedt noted this challenges assumptions about fat and brain health.
No similar association was found for low-fat cheese or cream. Any type of milk, or fermented milk products like yogurt and kefir, also showed no correlation.
Butter yielded mixed results, with high intake possibly increasing Alzheimer’s risk compared to non-butter consumers, according to the study data.
“Not all dairy products are equal when it comes to brain health,” Sonestedt said. She added that more research is needed to confirm these findings and explore specific protective effects of high-fat dairy.