Can Cheese Reduce Dementia Risk? What New Research Suggests

Cheese doesn’t usually show up in conversations about brain health. Leafy greens, berries, and olive oil tend to get that spotlight. 

But new research is suggesting that certain dairy foods, including full-fat cheese and cream, may deserve a closer look when it comes to long-term cognitive health.

Cheese and Dementia

A large study published this month in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, examined specific dietary habits and dementia outcomes over more than two decades. 

The findings don’t suggest that cheese is a cure or preventative treatment. But they do raise an interesting question: can cheese reduce dementia risk when eaten in moderation as part of an overall diet?

What the Study Looked At

Researchers analyzed data from the Malmö Diet and Cancer study, which followed about 27,600 adults in Sweden for an average of 25 years. 

Participants were in their late 50s at the start of the study and reported their typical food intake, including different types of dairy products. Over the course of the study, just over 3,200 participants developed dementia. 

And, when researchers compared dietary patterns, they noticed a consistent trend: people who regularly consumed higher amounts of full-fat cheese had lower rates of dementia than those who ate very little.

Specifically, participants who reported eating about 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese per day had a lower overall risk of dementia, compared with those who consumed small amounts. 

A similar pattern appeared among people who used more high-fat cream.

This doesn’t mean cheese directly prevents dementia. The study was observational, which means it can identify associations, but can’t prove cause and effect. 

Still, the consistency of the findings caught researchers’ attention.

Why Full-Fat Dairy Stood Out

One of the most notable aspects of the study was what didn’t show an association:

• Low-fat dairy products

• Milk

• Butter

• Yogurt

• Rermented milk products

None of these were linked to a reduced risk of dementia.

That distinction has fueled discussion about high-fat dairy and brain health, and whether dairy fat itself plays a role. Or, is it just acting as a substitute for less healthy foods?

Some researchers suggest that full-fat cheese may be less harmful than previously assumed, especially when compared with red or processed meats. 

In that sense, the benefit may come, not from cheese being protective on its own, but from what it replaces in the diet.

Dementia Types and Genetic Factors

The study also explored different forms of dementia. Researchers observed a lower risk of vascular dementia among participants who consumed more high-fat cheese. 

There was also a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but only among people who didn’t carry the APOE e4 gene, a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s.

This nuance matters. It suggests that diet may interact with genetic risk, rather than having a one-size-fits-all effect.

Why Context Matters More Than Cheese Alone

One of the most important takeaways from the research is that diet and dementia prevention can’t be boiled down to a single food. 

How and where cheese fits into someone’s eating pattern matters:

• In Sweden, cheese is often eaten uncooked and paired with bread, vegetables, or lighter meals. 

• In the U.S., cheese is more commonly eaten on burgers, pizza, or alongside processed meats. 

Those differences make it harder to apply the findings directly across populations.

Researchers emphasize that eating cheese as part of a diet heavy in ultra-processed foods is very different from eating it as part of a well-balanced meal.

What This Does and Doesn’t Mean

The findings don’t suggest increasing cheese intake as a strategy for preventing dementia. Researchers are careful to stress moderation and caution against dramatic dietary changes based on a single study.

What the research does suggest is that dairy fat and cognitive health may be more nuanced than previously thought. Not all saturated fats behave the same way in the body, and blanket assumptions about full-fat dairy may overlook important context.

Still, a growing body of research is continuing to support dietary patterns that emphasize:

• Fruits

• Vegetables

• Legumes

• Whole grains

• Fish

• Nuts

• Seeds

• Healthy oils 

Cheese may fit into those patterns, but it shouldn’t replace them.

How to Think About Cheese and Brain Health

Dementia risk is shaped over decades, influenced by genetics, lifestyle, cardiovascular health, and overall diet. No single food carries that burden alone.

But, this study adds to a broader shift away from labeling foods as strictly “good” or “bad.” Instead, it points toward moderation, substitution, and long-term patterns as the factors that matter most.

In other words, enjoying cheese now and then doesn’t appear to harm brain health, and it may even play a small supporting role when it replaces less healthy choices. That’s a reassuring message, but certainly not a prescription.

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