A 25-year Swedish study links high-fat cheese and cream to a lower dementia risk, challenging traditional beliefs about dairy and brain health.
High-Fat Dairy Linked to Lower Dementia Risk: New 25-Year Swedish Study Challenges Conventional Wisdom
A major new long-term study from Sweden has found that eating higher amounts of high-fat dairy foods — especially full-fat cheese and cream — may be associated with a lower risk of developing dementia over about 25 years of follow-up. These findings challenge decades of dietary recommendations that have generally encouraged lower fat intake for better health and raise intriguing questions about dairy, brain health, and the role of specific nutrients in aging brains. (PubMed)
Understanding the Study
Background and Purpose
The idea that food influences brain health is not new. Researchers have long studied dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet or the MIND diet and their links to dementia risk. But the role of high-fat dairy foods has been less clear, and evidence has been mixed. This new research — published in the medical journal Neurology — sought to investigate whether dairy products with different fat contents are differently associated with the risk of dementia. (PubMed)
Research Design
- Population studied: 27,670 Swedish adults from the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort — a large, prospective cohort study. (PubMed)
- Age and follow-up: Participants had an average baseline age of about 58 and were followed for a median of 25 years. (PubMed)
- Diet assessment: Researchers gathered detailed dietary information at the start using food diaries, questionnaires, and interviews. (PubMed)
- Outcome measured: Incidence of all-cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, verified through Swedish national health records. (PubMed)
Key Findings
1. High-Fat Cheese and Dementia Risk
- Participants who consumed 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese daily had about a 13% lower risk of developing all-cause dementia compared with those eating less than 15 grams daily. (PubMed)
- High-fat cheese was defined as containing more than 20% fat — including familiar varieties like cheddar, Brie, Gouda, and Gruyère. (ScienceDaily)
2. Vascular Dementia
- For vascular dementia, the reduction in risk was even larger — 29% lower among higher consumers of full-fat cheese. (PubMed)
3. High-Fat Cream Benefits
- People consuming 20 grams or more of high-fat cream daily (equivalent to ~1.4 tablespoons) showed a 16% lower risk of developing dementia compared to non-consumers. (PubMed)
4. No Benefit from Low-Fat Dairy
- Low-fat cheese, low-fat cream, milk (regardless of fat content), fermented milk products such as yogurt and kefir, and butter showed no clear association with dementia risk. (PubMed)
Why Might High-Fat Dairy Be Linked to Lower Dementia Risk?
The study does not prove that high-fat dairy prevents dementia, but it does show a strong association — meaning people who consumed more high-fat cheese and cream also tended to develop dementia less often. Experts propose several possible reasons: (lunduniversity.lu.se)
1. Nutrient Density
Full-fat cheeses and creams contain nutrients that may support brain health, including:
- Vitamins A, D, K2
- B-vitamins (like B12 and folate)
- Minerals such as zinc, iodine, selenium
These nutrients are important for nerve function, antioxidant defenses, and overall brain metabolism. (New York Post)
2. Link Between Heart and Brain Health
Cardiovascular health and brain health are intimately connected:
- Some components of full-fat dairy might help support heart health, which in turn could reduce dementia risk — especially vascular dementia, which is directly tied to blood vessel health. (lunduniversity.lu.se)
3. Fatty Acid Profiles
The unique lipid profile of high-fat dairy, including saturated and monounsaturated fats, could influence inflammation, cholesterol metabolism, and neuronal membrane composition — factors relevant to dementia. (People.com)
However, these theories remain speculative, and more research is needed to understand exact biological mechanisms.
Limitations and Why Caution Is Needed
Even though this research is large and long-term, several important limitations must be considered before making dietary decisions:
✦ Correlation vs. Causation
- The study is observational — it identifies associations but does not prove that high-fat cheese or cream causes a lower dementia risk. Other lifestyle factors could contribute to the result. (American Academy of Neurology)
✦ Dietary Changes Over Time
- Diet and lifestyle habits likely changed over the 25-year period, but dietary data were only assessed at baseline. (ScienceAlert)
✦ Population Specificity
- The study was conducted in Sweden, where dairy consumption patterns, cuisine, and lifestyle may differ significantly from other countries’ populations. (aan.com)
✦ Confounding Factors
- Higher education levels, overall diet quality, physical activity, and socioeconomic factors might also influence both food choices and dementia risk. Even with statistical adjustments, some of these effects could persist. (The Times)
✦ Generalizability
- Results may not be universally applicable to populations with different genetics, lifestyles, or typical diets. (aan.com)
Expert Reactions
Researchers’ Perspective
Lead author Dr. Emily Sonestedt, a nutritional epidemiologist at Lund University, notes the findings challenge long-standing assumptions about dietary fat and health, but she also emphasizes that the results do not mean people should dramatically increase high-fat dairy intake — especially without considering overall diet and health context. (aan.com)
Nutrition Specialists
Independent experts caution that while the results are intriguing, focusing on one food group is not as effective as adopting overall healthy lifestyles — including balanced diets, regular physical activity, healthy weight management, and cardiovascular risk reduction — which have stronger evidence for dementia prevention. (Medscape)
What This Means for You
✔ Balanced Diet Still Matters
Even if high-fat cheese and cream show an association with lower dementia risk, these foods are also:
- High in saturated fat
- Calorie-dense
Moderation and overall dietary balance remain key. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats in your diet. (People.com)
✔ Not a “Magic Bullet”
No single food is a guaranteed brain-protective agent. Lifestyle factors such as maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood pressure and diabetes, engaging in regular physical and cognitive activity, and avoiding smoking are all well-established ways to reduce dementia risk. (Medscape)
✔ Future Research Needed
The study opens doors for further investigations into why these associations exist and whether specific nutrients or mechanisms are at play. Future research including randomized clinical trials and studies in diverse populations will be key. (PubMed)
Conclusion
The new Swedish long-term study suggests that higher intake of high-fat cheese and cream may be associated with a lower long-term risk of dementia, particularly vascular dementia. This finding challenges conventional views about dairy fat and brain health, highlighting the complexity of nutrition science. However, because this study is observational, more research is needed to understand the causes and broader implications. Dietary choices should always be part of a holistic approach to health, emphasizing balance, nutrient variety, and overall lifestyle habits that support lifelong brain and body wellness. (American Academy of Neurology)