<div class="" data-article-body="true">Go ahead, have that hunk of cheddar or slice of Brie – it may protect you from dementia, new research suggests.The findings are from a study published Dec. 17 in <a href="https://www.neurology.org/doi/pdf/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214343" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Neurology;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Neurology</a>, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers in Sweden analyzed dietary data from about 27,600 participants in the <a href="https://www.malmo-cohorts.lu.se/malmo-diet-and-cancer-mdc" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Malmö Diet and Cancer study;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Malmö Diet and Cancer study</a>, who were followed for an average of 25 years.People in the study who consumed 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese daily had a 13% lower risk of developing dementia, compared to those who ate less than 15 grams daily, researchers found. Those who reported consuming more high-fat cream had a 16% lower risk of dementia, compared to those who had none, researchers said.While the study suggests an association between high-fat cheese and high-fat cream and a lower risk of dementia, it does not prove that consuming those foods leads to lower risks."This does not prove that cheese prevents dementia, but it does challenge the idea that all high-fat dairy is harmful for the brain," study co-author Emily Sonestedt, a nutrition researcher at Lund University in Sweden, where the Malmö Diet and Cancer study is based, told USA TODAY. "For most people, it means that enjoying cheese in reasonable amounts, as part of a balanced diet, does not appear to be harmful and may even be linked to some benefit."So, the findings shouldn't be taken as a reason to gorge yourself on Gouda. The "possible benefit of high-fat cheese" could arise because "it is a less harmful choice than red and processed meats," said Dr. Tian-Shin Yeh, physician and nutritional epidemiologist at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan, in an <a href="https://www.neurology.org/doi/full/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214587" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:accompanying editorial;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">accompanying editorial</a>.'Holiday heart syndrome': <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2025/12/17/holiday-heart-syndrome-triggers-prevention-tips/87793644007/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:What is it? Here's what doctors say about triggers and prevention;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">What is it? Here's what doctors say about triggers and prevention</a><h2 class="mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl">High-fat cheese and cream are OK? What gives?</h2>The Swedish researchers wanted to investigate previous findings from various international studies that suggest cheese and dairy have some association with dementia.About 25% of the participants – average age of 58 at the study's outset – reported consuming 50 grams of high-fat cheese daily, or about two slices of cheddar or half a cup of shredded cheese, while 27% ate 15 grams or less.During the study, 3,208 people, or about 12%, developed dementia. But among those who consumed more high-fat cheese, only 10% developed dementia over the decades covered by the study. Of those who ate less, 13% developed dementia, researchers said.People who ate more high-fat cheese – other types include Brie and Gouda – also had a 29% lower risk of vascular dementia, researchers found. Another finding: there was a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease among those who ate more high-fat cheese, but only among those who did not have the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers-genes/art-20046552" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:APOE e4 gene;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">APOE e4 gene</a>, which is a risk factor for <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2025/07/08/what-is-the-difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimers/84335147007/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia</a>.People who consumed 20 grams (about 1.4 tablespoons) or more of high-fat cream were found to have a lower dementia risk.However, other dairy products, including low-fat cheese, low-fat cream, high- or low-fat milk, butter or fermented milk products such as yogurt and buttermilk, were not associated with lower dementia risk, researchers said.That result from the study "makes a fairly strong case that dairy fat per se is not associated with dementia," Yeh said in the editorial.<figure class="relative mb-4"><div class="relative"><img alt="A chef displays a cheese platter featuring French brie and other cheeses at a restaurant in Beijing on September 8, 2017." loading="lazy" width="960" height="641" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="rounded-lg" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/iRFaGQw4jr9MoujXEWxmFg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_news_641/0b8e0809fa6280cc032a406b1db46454"><button aria-label="View larger image" class="group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent" data-ylk="elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;"><span class="absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none"><svg viewbox="0 0 22 22" aria-hidden="true" class="size-4 lg:size-6" width="22" height="22"><path d="M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z"></path></svg></button><dialog aria-label="Modal Dialog" aria-modal="true" class="fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden"></dialog></div><figcaption class="relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5"><div style="max-height:none;overflow:visible">A chef displays a cheese platter featuring French brie and other cheeses at a restaurant in Beijing on September 8, 2017.</div></figcaption></figure>The research comes amid a push by <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/robert-f-kennedy-jr/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s</a> <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/rfk-slams-processed-foods-pesticides-160049217.html" data-ylk="slk:Make America Healthy Again;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">Make America Healthy Again</a> commission to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2025/09/16/rfk-maha-whole-milk-dairy/86088440007/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:bring whole milk back into schools;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">bring whole milk back into schools</a>, despite unsettled findings about how milk with more saturated fat could impact diets.“These findings suggest that when it comes to brain health not all dairy is equal,” Sonestedt said in an <a href="https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/5304" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:American Academy of Neurology news release;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">American Academy of Neurology news release</a> about the research. “More research is needed to confirm our study results and further explore whether consuming certain high-fat dairy truly offers some level of protection for the brain.”The researchers don't recommend major dietary changes – or eating excessive amounts of cheese and cream. "But people who enjoy cheese or use cream in cooking don't need to feel concerned about these foods in moderate amounts," Sonestedt told <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/high-fat-cheese-cream-linked-lower-risk-dementia/story?id=128462994" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:ABC News;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">ABC News</a>.<h2 class="mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl">'Choosing cheese over a hotdog'</h2>The way cheese fits into your overall diet is likely a factor in dementia risk. Independent research is needed in the United States to replicate the findings, Sonestedt said. That's because cheese is often eaten uncooked in Sweden; however, in the U.S., cheese is often heated or eaten with meat.A person's "overall dietary context matters," Sonestedt said. "Cheese eaten on a hamburger or alongside processed meat is a very different pattern than cheese eaten with healthier foods. So we are not recommending that people switch to high-fat cheese as a strategy."Cheese could be a substitute if you are trying to eat healthier. "While choosing cheese over a hotdog may be a step in the right direction," Yeh said, "a larger body of evidence suggests that even more favorable options exist for maintaining cognitive health."A cumulation of research suggests "brain-protective diets" include a variety of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes, along with healthy fats from fish, nuts, seeds and olive oil, she said.A diet lower in ultra-processed foods would help offset the link found by previous research that <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2799140" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:ultra-processed foods;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">ultra-processed foods</a> may increase risks of dementia and <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/eating-processed-foods-hurting-brain-202355275.html" data-ylk="slk:cognitive decline;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">cognitive decline</a>."Ultimately, advancing public health requires that we move beyond simplistic 'goodfood/bad food' labels and instead embrace dietary patterns that prioritize moderation and strategic substitutions to promote and enhance cognitive health," Yeh said.Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at  <a href="https://www.threads.net/@mikegsnider" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:mikegsnider;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">mikegsnider</a>  &amp;  <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mikegsnider.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:@mikegsnider.bsky.social;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">@mikegsnider.bsky.social</a>  &amp;  <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeSnider" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:@mikesnider;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">@mikesnider</a> &amp; msnider@usatoday.comWhat's everyone talking about? <a href="https://profile.usatoday.com/newsletters/everyones-talking/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day</a>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/12/18/high-fat-cheese-heavy-cream-lower-dementia-risk-study/87814809007/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:High-fat cheeses, heavy cream may lower dementia risk, new study says;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">High-fat cheeses, heavy cream may lower dementia risk, new study says</a></div>

A Swedish study found people who eat more high-fat cheese including Brie, Gouda and cheddar, and consumed cream had a lower risk for dementia.

Eating Brie, Gouda, cheddar may lower dementia risk, new study says

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