Cheese May Be Good for Your Brain

Cheese lovers, rejoice! A new study says that cheese — specifically, the high-fat varieties — can help protect against dementia.

“Higher intake of high-fat cheese and high-fat cream was associated with a lower risk of all-cause dementia,” the research, published in the journal Neurology, found. Low-fat cheese, low-fat cream, and other low-fat dairy products “showed no significant association.” 

High-fat, for the study, meant that the product was at least 2.5% fat (for milk and fermented milk), 20% (for cheese), and 30% (for cream.)

Cheeses that fall in this category are soft cheeses like camembert and brie, hard cheeses like cheddar, and semi-soft cheeses like Gruyère and gouda. Blue cheeses, like stilton, also made the list.  

The researchers looked at data from more than 27,000 participants, and found that those who consumed high-fat cheese had a 13% lower risk of dementia. Those who consumed high-fat cream had a 16% lower risk.

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The researchers also noted that those who consumed high-fat cheeses had a “lower prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, [cardiovascular disease], and stroke and were less likely to use lipid-lowering medication.”

“Cheese, even high-fat cheese, in reasonable amounts as part of a balanced diet does not seem to harm brain health and may be linked to a slightly lower risk of dementia,” study author Emily Sonestedt, a nutrition scientist at Lund University, told Gizmodo. The outlet noted that the study focused on a Swedish population, where cheese is eaten alone versus on a sandwich, in pasta, or as part of a larger meal, as it is in America.

And while cheese may be linked to brain health, experts stress that foods high in fat can negatively impact cholesterol and heart health, and should be eaten in moderation.

“The most important things for your brain are still the basics: not smoking, staying physically and socially active, keeping blood pressure, blood sugar and weight under control, and eating a generally healthy pattern,” Sonestedt said. “Cheese can be part of the healthy diet.”