Stockholm: Enjoying moderate amounts of high-fat cheese such as cheddar, Brie, and Gouda may be associated with a lower risk of dementia, according to a long-term Swedish study published on December 17 in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Researchers analyzed dietary and health data from nearly 27,600 adults participating in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, tracking them for an average of 25 years. The findings suggest that participants who consumed 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese daily—roughly two slices of cheddar—had a 13% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who ate less than 15 grams per day.
Similarly, individuals who regularly consumed high-fat cream showed a 16% lower dementia risk than those who consumed none.
Association, not causation
Researchers were careful to emphasize that the findings show association, not proof of prevention.
“This does not prove that cheese prevents dementia,” said Emily Sonestedt, nutrition researcher at Lund University and study co-author. “But it challenges the idea that all high-fat dairy is harmful for brain health.”
During the study period, 3,208 participants (12%) developed dementia. Among high-fat cheese consumers, the rate was 10%, compared with 13% among low consumers.
Notably, higher cheese intake was also linked to a 29% lower risk of vascular dementia. A reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease was observed only in participants without the APOE ε4 gene, a known genetic risk factor.
Not all dairy shows benefit
The protective association was not observed for:
- Low-fat cheese or cream
- Milk (high or low fat)
- Butter
- Fermented dairy products such as yogurt and buttermilk
This suggests that dairy fat alone is unlikely to explain the findings, according to Dr. Tian-Shin Yeh, a nutritional epidemiologist at Taipei Medical University, who authored an accompanying editorial.
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“The benefit may reflect dietary substitution,” Yeh wrote, noting that cheese could be a less harmful alternative to red or processed meats, rather than a protective food in itself.
Context matters
Researchers cautioned against overinterpreting the results—especially outside Sweden.
Cheese in Sweden is often consumed uncooked and without processed meat, while in countries like the U.S., it is frequently eaten with burgers or hotdogs, which may negate potential benefits.
“Cheese eaten with vegetables or whole foods is very different from cheese eaten alongside ultra-processed foods,” Sonestedt said.
No recommendation for dietary overhaul
The researchers do not advise increasing cheese or cream intake as a dementia-prevention strategy. However, they stress that moderate consumption need not be feared.
“People who enjoy cheese or use cream in cooking don’t need to feel concerned when these foods are eaten in reasonable amounts,” Sonestedt said.
Experts continue to recommend overall dietary patterns associated with brain health—such as diets rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, nuts, olive oil, and low in ultra-processed foods.
The takeaway
The study adds nuance to the debate around saturated fat and cognitive health, suggesting that not all high-fat dairy products are equal. While cheese is no magic bullet, moderate consumption—especially as part of a balanced diet—may not be the villain it was once thought to be.
Or as one expert put it: choosing cheese over a hotdog might be progress—but choosing plants and fish still wins the long game.
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