Can cheese protect brain health? This is what the science says

"Eating more high-fat cheese and cream may be associated with a lower risk of developing dementia, according to a study published on December 17 in the academic journal Neurology. The analysis based on data collected from nearly 30,000 people challenges the previous scientific belief that a low-fat diet could have a protective effect against dementia. Although its conclusions are quite dramatic, it's an observational study that doesn't prove causation."

"Researchers analyzed data from 27,670 people in Sweden, with an average age of 58 at the start of the study. At that time, participants recorded their food intake for one week and answered questions about how frequently they had consumed certain foods in recent years. They were then followed for an average period of 25 years. During this time, 3,208 of the participants developed dementia."

Data from 27,670 Swedish adults (average age 58) who recorded food intake for one week and reported long-term consumption frequency were followed for an average of 25 years. During follow-up, 3,208 participants developed dementia. After adjustment for age, gender, education and overall diet quality, higher reported consumption of high-fat cheese correlated with a 13% lower risk of developing dementia compared with lower consumption. High-fat cheeses contain more than 20% fat (examples: Manchego, Parmesan, Roquefort, cheddar). The analysis was observational and cannot establish causation; potential confounding by socioeconomic or other variables was noted.

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