Highlights:
- A new study links eating more high-fat cheese and cream to a lower risk of developing dementia.
- High-fat cheeses have more than 20% fat and include cheddar, Brie and Gouda.
- People who ate 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese daily had a 13% lower risk of dementia than those eating less than 15 grams daily.
- People who consumed 20 grams or more of high-fat cream daily had a 16% lower risk of dementia than those who consumed none.
- No association was found for low-fat dairy products, fermented milk, milk or butter.
- More research is needed to explore whether consuming certain high-fat dairy offers some level of protection for the brain.
MINNEAPOLIS — Eating more high-fat cheese and high-fat cream may be linked to a lower risk of developing dementia, according to a new study published on December 17, 2025, in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. This study does not prove that eating high-fat cheese and high-fat cream lowers the risk of dementia, it only shows an association.
High-fat cheeses contain more than 20% fat and include varieties such as cheddar, Brie and Gouda. High-fat creams typically contain 30-40% fat and include whipping cream, double cream and clotted cream. These are commonly labeled as “full-fat” or “regular” versions in stores.
“For decades, the debate over high-fat versus low-fat diets has shaped health advice, sometimes even categorizing cheese as an unhealthy food to limit,” said Emily Sonestedt, PhD, of Lund University, Sweden “Our study found that some high-fat dairy products may actually lower the risk of dementia, challenging some long-held assumptions about fat and brain health.”
Researchers analyzed data from 27,670 people in Sweden with an average age of 58 at the start of the study. They were followed for an average of 25 years. During the study, 3,208 people developed dementia.
Participants kept track of what they ate for a week and answered questions about how often they ate certain foods during the past few years. They also talked with researchers about how they prepared their food.
Researchers compared people who ate 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese daily to people who ate less than 15 grams daily. For example, 50 grams of cheese is about two slices of cheddar or half a cup of shredded cheese and is approximately 1.8 ounces. A typical serving of cheese is one ounce. Of those who ate more high-fat cheese, 10% developed dementia by the end of the study. Of those who ate less, 13% developed dementia.
After adjusting for age, sex, education and overall diet quality, researchers found that people who ate more high-fat cheese had a 13% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who ate less. When looking at specific types of dementia, they found people who ate more high-fat cheese had a 29% lower risk of vascular dementia.
Researchers also found a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease among those who ate more high-fat cheese, but only among those not carrying the APOE e4 gene variant—a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers also compared people who consumed 20 grams or more of high-fat cream daily to people who consumed none. For example, 20 grams of high-fat cream is about 1.4 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream. A recommended serving is about 1-2 tablespoons.
After similar adjustments, researchers found that those who consumed high-fat cream daily had a 16% lower risk of dementia compared to those who consumed none.
No associations were found between dementia risk and eating low-fat cheese, low-fat cream, high- or low-fat milk, butter or fermented milk, which includes yogurt, kefir and buttermilk.
“These findings suggest that when it comes to brain health not all dairy is equal,” said Sonestedt. “While eating more high-fat cheese and cream was linked to a reduced risk of dementia, other dairy products and low-fat alternatives did not show the same effect. More research is needed to confirm our study results and further explore whether consuming certain high-fat dairy truly offers some level of protection for the brain.”
A limitation was that study participants were all from Sweden, so results may not be the same for other populations. Sonestedt noted that in Sweden, cheese is often eaten uncooked, while in the United States, cheese is often heated or eaten with meat. Therefore, she says it is important that studies also be conducted in the United States.
The study was supported by Swedish Research Council, Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation, Crafoord Foundation, Magnus Bergvall Foundation and Albert Påhlsson Foundation.
Discover more about dementia at Brain & Life®, from the American Academy of Neurology. This resource offers a website, podcast, and books that connect patients, caregivers and anyone interested in brain health with the most trusted information, straight from the world’s leading experts in brain health. Follow Brain & Life® on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
The American Academy of Neurology is the leading voice in brain health. As the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 40,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN’s mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.
Explore the latest in neurological disease and brain health, from the minds at the AAN at AAN.com or find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. |
Highlights:
- A new study has found that within the year following a stroke, female participants had more difficulty than male participants with doing daily tasks.
- Daily tasks include eating, dressing, driving and cooking.
- The differences remained even after considering age, education and insurance.
- The study authors suggest that early and repeated checks on daily abilities after stroke, especially for female individuals, could help improve recovery.
MINNEAPOLIS — When examining recovery during the first year after an ischemic stroke, a new study has found for daily tasks such as eating, dressing and driving, female participants experienced slightly worse recovery than male participants. The study was published December 17, 2025 in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke, is when blood flow is blocked to part of the brain.
“Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. and with the aging population, the number of stroke survivors is growing,” said study author Chen Chen, PhD, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. “Since many people live with physical, cognitive and emotional challenges after stroke, it is important to find ways to improve recovery. Our study provides a better understanding of sex differences during stroke recovery.”
For the study, researchers identified 1,046 people who experienced their first ischemic stroke. Participants had an average age of 66. Researchers reviewed medical records and participant interviews to track their recovery at three, six and 12 months after stroke. Participants were given neurological assessments, cognitive tests and completed questionnaires about their quality of life.
Participants were also assessed on how well they completed daily tasks, both simple and more complex, such as walking, bathing, cooking and doing housework. A score of two indicated some difficulty completing daily tasks. A score of three indicated a lot of difficulty.
For daily tasks, female participants had higher average scores than male participants indicating poorer recovery at three, six and 12 months after stroke. For example, female participants had an average score of 2.39 and male participants had an average score of 2.04 at three months.
Scores for female participants, but not male participants, decreased from three to 12 months, indicating some improvement.
After adjusting for factors such as age, race and ethnicity, education and insurance status, researchers found female participants’ average scores were higher by 0.13, 0.10 and 0.09 at three, six and 12 months, indicating poorer recovery than male participants. Chen noted the effect size was small.
While there were no sex differences in other areas of recovery, both sexes experienced improvement in neurological function, which includes communicating and performing simple movements.
“Our results suggest that early and repeated assessments of a person’s ability to do daily tasks after stroke are needed, and particularly for female individuals, in order to reduce these differences in recovery,” said Chen. “When developing new interventions, these recovery patterns should be considered. Since the differences were mainly in activities such as doing heavy housework, shopping and carrying heavy weights, new interventions could include muscle-strengthening activities.”
A limitation of the study was that researchers did not have data on participants’ use of rehabilitation services, so they were unable to evaluate the potential impact.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Discover more about stroke at Brain & Life®, from the American Academy of Neurology. This resource offers a website, podcast, and books that connect patients, caregivers and anyone interested in brain health with the most trusted information, straight from the world’s leading experts in brain health. Follow Brain & Life® on Facebook, X and Instagram.
The American Academy of Neurology is the leading voice in brain health. As the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 40,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN’s mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.
Explore the latest in neurological disease and brain health from the minds at the AAN at AAN.com or find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. |
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