New research from Sweden has delivered a surprising twist in the ongoing conversation about diet and brain health, suggesting that two specific full-fat dairy products might be associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia.
The Swedish Study: Key Findings on Dairy and Dementia
A substantial long-term investigation, which tracked 27,670 participants over a 25-year period, has provided intriguing data. During the study, 3,208 individuals were diagnosed with dementia. The analysis revealed that higher consumption of full-fat cheese and cream was linked to a lower incidence of the condition.
Specifically, for people without a known genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's, eating more than 50 grams of full-fat cheese daily was connected to a 13% to 17% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. Meanwhile, consuming over 20 grams of full-fat cream per day was associated with a 16% to 24% reduction in overall dementia risk.
Notably, the study found no such protective links for low-fat or high-fat milk, fermented milk, or low-fat cream. The research was led by Professor Eef Hogervorst of Loughborough University and was originally published by The Conversation on 24 December 2025.
Interpreting the Data: Context and Cautions
These findings appear to challenge longstanding public health guidance that often recommends low-fat dairy to support cardiovascular health. This is significant because heart disease and dementia share many common risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes.
However, experts strongly advise careful interpretation. The study's authors took meticulous steps to ensure accuracy, excluding participants who had dementia at the start and re-checking results after removing those who developed it within the first decade. This was to account for the fact that early, undiagnosed cognitive changes can affect both diet and memory of food intake.
Furthermore, the benefits observed may not stem solely from the dairy products themselves. "Substitution" could play a key role, where cheese or cream replaces less healthy options like processed red meat in a person's diet. Supporting this idea, the Swedish analysis found no link between full-fat dairy and dementia risk in participants whose diets remained stable over five years.
The Bigger Picture: Diet, Lifestyle, and Overall Health
Critically, the research underscores that foods should not be viewed in isolation. In the Swedish cohort, individuals who consumed more full-fat cheese and cream also tended to be more educated, less likely to be overweight, and had lower rates of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes—all factors that independently lower dementia risk.
This suggests that higher cheese intake often occurred within a broader context of a healthier lifestyle. The most consistent evidence for protecting brain health points to balanced dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, which includes cheese alongside vegetables, fish, whole grains, and fruit.
While full-fat cheese contains nutrients like vitamins A, D, K2, B12, and selenium that are relevant to neurological function, the data does not justify eating large quantities as a specific shield against dementia. The core message remains that overall diet, moderation, and lifestyle choices matter far more than any single item on the plate.
