Health
Can High-Fat Cheese Help Brain Health?
Health Points
- Moderate amounts of high-fat cheese and cream may be linked to lower dementia risk.
- Low-fat dairy and other dairy types did not show the same benefit, according to a large Swedish study.
- Lifestyle factors and genetics also play a role in dementia risk, and experts caution moderation.
Recent research from Sweden hints that enjoying some high-fat cheese and cream in your diet could slightly reduce your dementia risk. While low-fat dairy didn’t offer this potential benefit, regular servings of rich cheeses like cheddar and brie were associated with improved brain health over time.
The study followed nearly 28,000 adults for 25 years, carefully tracking diet and health outcomes. Eating about two slices of high-fat cheese daily was linked to a 13 percent reduction in dementia risk, and cream showed a possible brain-protective effect as well.
“For many years, people were advised to limit high-fat dairy, and cheese was even placed in the ‘foods to avoid’ category in the MIND diet,” says study author Emily Sonestedt, PhD. “Our earlier research on heart health had suggested that cheese may be linked to better vascular outcomes. Since blood vessel health is so important for brain health, it was plausible that we might see a similar pattern for dementia.”
Lifestyle and genetic factors can also influence dementia risk. Many experts urge people to consider overall wellness — including physical activity — rather than relying on single food choices for brain health.
“We have to put the potential benefits of high-fat cheese and cream in context of how much someone is exercising and other factors that may affect dementia risk,” says Dr. Cindy Carlsson, director of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute.
While it’s too soon to make sweeping dietary changes, moderate enjoyment of high-fat cheese and cream may not be as concerning as once believed. As always, balance is best for both brain and body as we age.
Stay informed with evidence-based tips and celebrate the positive side of healthy aging with us each week!
