Are Full-Fat Dairy Products Beneficial for Brain Health?

SadaNews - Full-fat dairy products are currently receiving their share of attention. After years of promoting low- or no-fat options, new dietary guidelines now recommend choosing full-fat dairy, while still advising consumers to keep saturated fats below 10 percent of daily calories.

Amid the push for full-fat dairy, a recent study published in the journal "Neurology" linked the consumption of high-fat cheese and cream to a reduced risk of dementia. The results attracted media attention, partly because health experts rarely highlight the benefits of high-fat foods.

However, experts say that the new research is not strong enough to suggest that people start consuming more high-fat dairy products, according to "Verywell Health. "

Study Links High-Fat Cheese and Cream to Reduced Risk of Dementia

The "Neurology" study is the longest and largest to date examining the potential association between high-fat dairy consumption and dementia risk.

Researchers from Lund University in Sweden analyzed data from over 27,000 people with an average age of 58 and followed them for about 25 years.

They compared dementia diagnoses between participants who consumed at least 50 grams of high-fat cheese (about two slices) daily with those who consumed less than 15 grams per day. High-fat cheeses (those containing more than 20 percent fat) include cheddar, brie, and gouda.

Participants who consumed higher amounts of high-fat cheese showed a 13 percent lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who consumed less, and their risk of vascular dementia decreased by 29 percent, a form of dementia resulting from damage to blood vessels in the brain, often occurring due to small strokes accumulating over time.

People who consumed 20 grams of high-fat cream daily also showed a 16 percent decrease in the risk of dementia compared to those who did not consume it.

Why Might High-Fat Cheese Benefit the Brain?

Some types of cheese are rich in vitamin K2, a nutrient linked to vascular health. Since vascular health is associated with dementia risk, it makes sense to assume a connection between high-fat cheese and dementia risk, as explained by Michelle King Reimer, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Public Health, who did not participate in the study.

Reimer added, "This study did not test the mechanisms; therefore, the results remain inferential rather than definitive."

Low-Fat Dairy Products Show No Effect on Brain Health

It is somewhat surprising that researchers found no association between dementia risk and consumption of low-fat cheese or cream, or whole or low-fat milk, butter, or fermented dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, and buttermilk.

The researchers expressed uncertainty about why high-fat cheese and cream are linked to a lower risk of dementia. Some possible explanations include differences in fat content, nutrient composition, and dietary structure, which may vary between high- and low-fat dairy products.

Emily Sonestedt, one of the study authors and a senior lecturer in nutritional epidemiology at Lund University, commented: "These findings suggest that when it comes to brain health, not all dairy products are created equal. More research is needed to confirm our study's findings and explore whether consuming certain high-fat dairy products actually provides a certain level of protection for the brain."

Major Limitations in the Study

The researchers also noted several limitations. The study included participants from Sweden only, meaning the results may not apply to people in other countries. In Sweden, cheese is typically eaten cold, while in the U.S., it is often heated, as in macaroni and cheese, or served with meats; this may affect the results.

The neurological protective benefits might also reflect other factors, such as a generally healthier diet, or a healthier lifestyle, or better overall health, or other variables that the study did not measure.

It is also worth noting that the participants' diets were assessed only once during the first week of the study in 1991, followed by an interview in the second week, and the researchers relied on a follow-up questionnaire with a subset of participants after 5 years to assess dietary changes.

Can Cheese Protect Your Brain?

Reimer believes that while some nutrients in cheese may have benefits for brain health, it is important to consider the entire dietary package. She explained, "High-fat dairy products contain saturated fats, and decades of research support recommendations to limit saturated fat intake due to its impact on harmful cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular disease."

Dr. Leicia Neumann from the Alzheimer’s Association confirms that the evidence increasingly suggests that a combination of healthy lifestyle habits may protect brain health more than just changing diet alone.

Neumann pointed out that the "recipe" for reducing dementia risk includes a mix of regular physical activity, good nutrition, cognitive and social engagement, and regular health monitoring.