A comprehensive study from Sweden has highlighted a potential link between higher consumption of full-fat cheese and cream and a lower risk of dementia in middle-aged and older adults. While this may seem promising, the findings require some careful thought.
This research tracked 27,670 individuals over a period of 25 years, during which 3,208 participants were diagnosed with dementia.
For those without a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease, eating more than 50 grams of full-fat cheese daily was associated with a 13%–17% reduction in risk. However, this decrease wasn’t observed in those with genetic risk factors.
On the other hand, consuming over 20 grams of full-fat cream daily correlated with a 16%–24% lower overall risk of dementia. Notably, there were no significant associations concerning low-fat or high-fat milk, or any kind of cream.
This research is noteworthy given the prevailing health recommendations advocating for low-fat dairy to mitigate cardiovascular risks. It’s particularly interesting since both heart disease and dementia share various risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
Looking at previous studies, there is some suggestion that cheese might be linked to lower heart disease risk, with full-fat dairy not necessarily increasing cardiovascular concerns.
Other research on brain health has produced mixed results, though. In some instances, findings in Asian populations point toward benefits from dairy consumption for cognitive health, which contrasts with many European studies lacking such evidence.
One explanation for these discrepancies could be that dairy intake is generally lower in Asian countries, so even small amounts may yield different impacts compared to higher consumption levels. For instance, a Japanese study indicated reduced dementia risk linked to cheese, but the overall consumption was quite minimal and funded by a cheese manufacturer. Conversely, another Japanese study backed by government funds found no protective effect.
Some long-term European studies have reported advantages as well. A Finnish study involving 2,497 middle-aged men over 22 years found that cheese consumption was tied to a 28% lower dementia risk.
Additionally, while milk and processed red meat appeared linked to decreased cognitive performance, fish consumption was noted to have beneficial effects.
A significant UK study tracking nearly 250,000 participants indicated that consuming fish two to four times a week, along with daily fruit and weekly cheese, correlated with decreased dementia risk.
That said, many of these studies have limitations, particularly since dietary habits are typically self-reported, which can be influenced by memory changes in individuals. To counter this, the Swedish researchers took extra precautions.
They first excluded anyone with dementia at the study’s outset and later recalculated results by omitting those who developed dementia within the first ten years. This didn’t involve restarting the study, but rather focusing on a subset of participants who remained cognitively healthy for a longer duration.
This approach aimed to minimize the effects of early-stage dementia, which can alter behavior and diet long before an actual diagnosis.
Another important question is whether the reported benefits stem from substituting other foods, like red or processed meat, with cheese or cream, instead of being a direct result of dairy consumption.
The research suggested that participants with stable diets over five years showed no connection between full-fat dairy and dementia risk, leaning toward the idea that overall dietary patterns play a larger role than isolated foods.
For instance, healthier diets, such as the Mediterranean diet—which includes cheese along with vegetables, fish, whole grains, and fruit—are known to lower risks of dementia and heart disease.
Interestingly, participants consuming more full-fat cheese and cream tended to have better education levels, lower obesity rates, and fewer health conditions linked to dementia, like heart disease or diabetes. This might indicate that higher cheese intake was part of an overall healthier lifestyle.
Ultimately, the evidence does not support the notion that full-fat dairy directly causes or protects against dementia. Full-fat cheese does contain nutrients beneficial to brain health, but the data doesn’t justify overindulgence in cheese or cream as a defense against dementia or heart disease. The key takeaway seems to be that balanced diets, moderation, and lifestyle factors are far more crucial than any single type of food.
