Scientists Find Full Fat Cheese Helps Lower Dementia Risk...

What’s Happening

So get this: Here’s what the experts have to say about the findings.

New research suggests full-fat cheeses may lower the risk of dementia. The study didn’t find the same association with lower-fat cheeses. (and honestly, same)

The experts recommend interpreting the findings with caution.

The Details

Full-fat cheeses have been blamed as contributors for everything from obesity to heart disease, but surprising new research suggests cheeses like Brie and gouda may lower your risk of dementia. The connection seems random—and it is on some level—but the experts say there may be something here.

For the study, which was published in the journal Neurology , researchers analyzed data from nearly 28,000 people in Sweden with an average age of 58 at the start of the study. The participants were followed for an average of 25 years.

Why This Matters

During that time, 3,208 people were diagnosed with dementia. As part of the research, participants logged what they ate for a week and answered questions about how often they ate certain foods for the past few years, as well as how they prepared their food. Researchers specifically looked at people who ate 50 grams (1.

This is the kind of health news that affects everyday decisions.

Key Takeaways

• 8 ounces) or more of high-fat cheese a day and compared them to those who ate less than 15 grams (0.
• Meet the the experts : Keri Gans, R.
• , is a dietitian and host of The Keri Report podcast ; Sonya Angelone, R.
• , is a nutritionist and registered dietitian based in San Francisco, CA; Clifford Segil, D.

The Bottom Line

Once they adjusted for things like age, sex, education, and overall diet quality, the researchers found that people who ate more high-fat cheese had a 13% lower risk of developing dementia compared to people who ate less. The high-fat cheese group also had a 29% lower risk of developing vascular dementia, which is caused interrupted blood flow to the brain.

Thoughts? Drop them below.