Full-Fat Cheese Linked to Lower Dementia Risk: Swedish Study Reveals Surprising Connection

Discover how a long-term Swedish study found a surprising association between enjoying full-fat cheese and a diminished likelihood of dementia, especially for specific groups. Learn more about the implications for brain health and dietary choices.

Surprising Dairy Findings

Groundbreaking research involving nearly 27,700 adults in Sweden, tracked for a quarter-century, has unearthed an unexpected dietary connection to cognitive

health. The study, published in the prestigious Neurology Journal in December 2025, observed that individuals who regularly incorporated certain full-fat dairy products into their meals exhibited a decreased incidence of dementia. Specifically, the data points towards full-fat cheese and cream as having a notable correlation with a lower risk. This revelation challenges conventional dietary wisdom that often advocates for low-fat options, offering a fresh perspective on the role of dairy in maintaining brain function over the long term. The research meticulously controlled for various factors to isolate the impact of these specific foods.

Cheese and Alzheimer's Link

The detailed analysis of dietary habits among participants revealed a compelling pattern: those who consumed higher quantities of full-fat cheese appeared to have a reduced likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. This beneficial association was particularly pronounced in individuals who did not possess known genetic markers for the condition. For this specific group, the study indicated that consuming more than approximately 50 grams of full-fat cheese daily was linked to a 13% to 17% lower risk of Alzheimer's compared to those who ate less. Crucially, this protective effect did not extend to individuals with a genetic predisposition, suggesting that while diet can be beneficial, it may not entirely counteract inherited vulnerabilities. The study did not find similar patterns with milk, regardless of fat content, or with fermented dairy like yogurt.

Cream's Cognitive Role

A similar positive trend was observed with the consumption of full-fat cream. Participants who reported consuming more than 20 grams of full-fat cream daily demonstrated a notable reduction in their overall dementia risk, ranging from 16% to 24%. This finding further supports the idea that not all dairy fat is detrimental to brain health and that specific full-fat dairy products may offer protective benefits. However, it is important to note that this observed effect was specific to full-fat cream; low-fat cream did not show a clear association with reduced dementia risk. This distinction underscores the importance of the fat content and potentially other components within these dairy products when considering their impact on cognitive well-being.

Navigating Dietary Advice

These findings present a nuanced perspective that seemingly diverges from decades of nutritional guidance that often promoted low-fat dairy for cardiovascular health. The connection between heart health and brain health is well-established, with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and obesity recognized as risk factors for dementia. Therefore, any dietary advice impacting heart health indirectly affects brain health. While previous research has sometimes challenged the notion that full-fat dairy is inherently harmful, with some studies even suggesting potential benefits for heart health and lower heart disease risk, the impact on brain health has been less definitive, yielding mixed results across various populations. This new Swedish study adds a significant piece to that complex puzzle.

Study Rigor and Caveats

The researchers behind this study took considerable measures to ensure the reliability of their findings and minimize potential biases. They meticulously excluded participants who already had dementia at the outset of the study. Furthermore, they conducted secondary analyses after removing individuals who developed dementia within the initial ten years, thereby mitigating the possibility that early, undetected cognitive decline had already influenced dietary patterns. An additional observation noted by the researchers was that individuals who consumed more full-fat cheese and cream also tended to exhibit healthier lifestyle choices overall. These included higher educational attainment, lower rates of being overweight, and reduced incidence of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, all of which are independently known to lower dementia risk.