Regular consumption of high-fat cream may be linked to a reduced risk of dementia, according to a new Swedish study. The findings challenge conventional wisdom about the health impacts of dairy and could lead to a more nuanced understanding of dietary recommendations for brain health.
Nutritionists currently advise moderation when consuming cream and cheese due to their high saturated fat content, which is often considered potentially harmful to health. However, research suggests that cheese consumption, in particular, may have long-term positive effects on cognitive function, as reported by the Deutsche Ärzteblatt. A Finnish study demonstrated a correlation between the two.
Surprisingly, similar benefits may extend to cream as well. Swedish researchers found that regular cream consumption was associated with a lower dementia risk. These results suggest that individual dairy products should be evaluated independently, rather than grouped together.
Researchers Confirm Link Between Cheese Consumption and Lower Dementia Risk
For their investigation, published in the journal Neurology, a research team from the University of Lund analyzed data from the “Malmö Diet and Cancer” long-term study. Participants provided detailed information about their dietary habits. A total of 27,670 adults were evaluated, who were, on average, 58.1 years old at the time of the surveys between 1991 and 1996 and showed no signs of dementia. Over the following 25 years, 3,208 cases of dementia occurred.
The analysis revealed that approximately 10 percent of participants who reported consuming more than 50 grams of cheese with a fat content exceeding 20 percent daily developed dementia during the observation period. This amount is roughly equivalent to two rolls with brie. In contrast, the proportion among those who consumed less than 15 grams of cheese per day was 13 percent. However, when the high-fat cheese was replaced with fatty red meat in a further analysis, the dementia risk increased again, suggesting that the higher fat content isn’t necessarily responsible for the protective effect. Researchers speculate that other ingredients in brie, gouda, or cheddar may play a role.
Study Shows: Cream May As well Reduce Dementia Risk
In addition to the influence of cheese on cognitive abilities, the scientists also investigated the effects of cream consumption on dementia risk. They found that daily consumption of 20 grams of high-fat cream – equivalent to about 1.4 tablespoons with a fat content of over 30 percent – was associated with a 16 percent lower dementia risk. However, no comparable protective effect was observed for butter with a fat content exceeding 80 percent.
It’s significant to note that this is an observational study. A causal link between the consumption of cheese or cream and a lower dementia risk cannot therefore be established. Other lifestyle factors of the participants – such as overall dietary habits or social factors – contributed to the observed effect.
