Eating full-fat cheeses and cream linked to lower risk of dementia

During the study, scientists analyzed data from almost 27.7 thousand Swedish residents, whose average age at the start of observations was 58 years. Participants were followed for approximately 25 years, during which time more than 3,200 people were diagnosed with dementia.

Subjects kept weekly food diaries, answered questions about the frequency of consumption of various foods over previous years, and reported how they prepared food. The researchers then compared the cognitive health of people who ate at least 50 grams of full-fat cheese daily with those whose daily diet included less than 15 grams of such a product.

The analysis found that those who consumed full-fat cheese had a 13% lower risk of developing dementia. In particular, their likelihood of vascular dementia was reduced by 29%. Additionally, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease was 13% lower, but this effect was only observed in people without a family history of the disease.

Separately, scientists assessed the effect of heavy cream. Participants who consumed 20 grams or more of high-fat cream daily had a 16% lower risk of dementia compared to those who ate no cream. However, the study found no link between the development of dementia and the consumption of low-fat cheeses and cream, as well as milk, butter and fermented milk products, including yogurt and buttermilk.