Could Cheese Lower Your Risk of Dementia?
Here’s something that might make you look at your cheese board a little differently. A new study from Japan suggests that enjoying cheese regularly could be linked to a lower risk of developing dementia. Now, before anyone starts thinking a wedge of cheddar is a magic bullet, let’s unpack what the research actually found.
Researchers from Niimi University, working with data commissioned by the Japanese food company Meiji, looked at nearly 8,000 people aged 65 and over. About half of these participants reported eating cheese at least once a week, while the other half rarely or never touched it. Over a three-year period, the health of these individuals was tracked closely. The results showed that 3.4 percent of regular cheese eaters developed dementia, compared with 4.5 percent of those who avoided cheese. Put another way, that’s roughly 10 fewer cases of dementia per 1,000 people in the cheese-eating group.
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The difference may seem modest, and the researchers are careful to stress that this is an association, not a cause-and-effect situation. Still, it adds another layer to what we already know about diet and brain health. According to the team, these findings line up with previous studies that link dairy intake to cognitive wellbeing. In countries like Japan, where cheese isn’t a dietary staple, even small differences at a population level could meaningfully influence dementia prevention strategies.
The study also took into account a variety of factors that can affect dementia risk—things like age, sex, education, income, and even overall diet quality. Interestingly, people who avoided cheese tended to have less balanced diets, which could partially explain the link. But even after adjusting for these factors, the association between cheese and lower dementia risk remained significant.
So why might cheese have this effect? While this particular study didn’t dive into the biological mechanisms, other research offers some hints. Cheese is rich in vitamin K, contains beneficial bacteria that support gut health, and is a fermented dairy product, which is generally good for heart health. All of these elements have been tied, in different ways, to a lower risk of cognitive decline.
Dementia is a growing global concern, currently affecting over 50 million people worldwide, and numbers are expected to rise as populations age. While eating cheese isn’t a guaranteed way to prevent it, studies like this suggest that incorporating it into a balanced diet might offer some protective benefit. The researchers are calling for more studies to explore cheese types, consumption levels, and the underlying mechanisms involved.
So next time you slice into that brie or sprinkle some parmesan over your pasta, you might just be doing your brain a small favor—alongside satisfying your taste buds.
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