Gaby
Doctors recommend staying active, eating a balanced diet, and quitting smoking to protect brain health as we age. New research suggests a surprisingly simple addition to that list: more cheese and dairy may be linked with a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Cheese May Boost Brain Function
Japanese researchers who tracked the diets and health of more than 1,500 people aged 65 and older report that those who regularly ate cheese scored higher on cognitive tests. The team says the results point to a possible lower risk of developing dementia among people who consume dairy.
Cheese contains nutrients that could support brain function, though the researchers emphasize that more studies are needed to confirm a direct benefit.
Health experts also advise keeping a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, and managing blood pressure to reduce dementia risk. Previous studies have linked physical activity, a Mediterranean-style diet, dairy consumption, and moderate wine intake with delayed cognitive decline. Other research has found that higher intake of soy products, vegetables, seaweed, milk, and dairy products is associated with lower dementia risk.
Cheese Consumption and Dementia Risk
To dig deeper into dairy’s role, the researchers analyzed data from 1,504 Tokyo residents aged 65 and older who reported their eating habits and health. About eight in 10 included cheese in their diets: daily (27.6%), every two days (23.7%), or one to two times a week (29.7%).
The most commonly eaten product was processed cheese, chosen by roughly two-thirds of respondents. Participants also reported eating cheeses with white mold, such as Brie and Camembert, and cream cheese (15.3%); fresh cheeses like feta, mascarpone, and ricotta (13%); and blue cheeses such as Stilton and Gorgonzola (2.5%).
Respondents also took a 30-point test assessing orientation, attention, memory, language, and visual-spatial skills. A score of 23 or lower was considered indicative of cognitive decline.
Those who included cheese in their diets were less likely to score below that threshold, suggesting better cognitive function. On average, cheese eaters scored 28 points on the test, compared with 27 points for non–cheese eaters.
Nuances and the Need for More Research
People who ate cheese in the study also tended to have slightly lower blood pressure, faster walking speed, and a more varied diet. At the same time, they showed higher average levels of cholesterol and blood sugar.
The research team said the findings indicate an inverse relationship between cheese consumption and cognitive decline even after adjusting for many potential confounding factors. But the team cautioned that the results do not prove cheese directly improves brain health; further research is needed to confirm any causal link.
The authors suggest one possible explanation is that people who eat cheese generally have more varied diets. Cheese could also supply nutrients that help preserve attention, memory, and language skills in people over 65.
