A long-term study conducted by researchers at Lund University in Sweden has found that regular consumption of full-fat cheese may be associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia later in life, challenging common assumptions about dietary fat and brain health.
According to the study, individuals who consumed at least 50 grams of unprocessed full-fat cheese daily—roughly equivalent to two slices—had up to a 13% lower risk of dementia. The findings also showed that consuming 20 grams or more of cream per day was linked to a 16% reduction in risk.
In contrast, the study found no significant effect—either positive or negative—from low-fat dairy products on dementia risk. It also did not identify a clear association between dementia risk and the consumption of other dairy items such as milk, butter, or yogurt.
Emily Sonestedt, a researcher at Lund University, said the long-standing debate over high-fat versus low-fat diets has often led to cheese being labeled as an unhealthy food that should be limited. She noted that the study’s findings offer a different perspective that warrants further investigation.
The research was based on an analysis of health and dietary data collected over 25 years from nearly 28,000 participants in Sweden, more than 3,200 of whom developed dementia during the follow-up period. Participants recorded detailed information about their eating habits and food preparation methods, allowing researchers to link long-term dietary patterns with health outcomes.
The research team defined full-fat cheese as containing 20% fat or more, while cream was classified as low-fat if its fat content was below 30%.
Commenting on the results, Sonestedt said that some high-fat dairy products may play a potential role in supporting brain health, but she emphasized the need for further studies—especially in countries like the United States, where cheese is often consumed melted or alongside processed meats.
The researchers also noted that these potential benefits were not observed in individuals carrying the APOE e4 gene variant, which is associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, indicating that genetic factors remain a significant influence in dementia risk.
