The Opposite of the MIND Diet? Report Suggests Cheese Might Be "Good for the Brain," Experts Weigh In

"Should We Rethink 'Avoid Cheese'?" A Surprising Link Between "High-Fat Cheese" and Dementia Risk

"Limit fats for health," "Low-fat dairy is the way to go"—such long-standing beliefs are being challenged by a study that has become a hot topic. The catalyst is a large-scale longitudinal study from Sweden. It reports that people who frequently consume high-fat cheese and high-fat cream tend to have a lower risk of dementia. Aan

However, let's clarify upfront—this is not one of those headlines suggesting "Eating cheese can prevent dementia!" The study indicates a "correlation" and does not prove causation. Experts strongly caution against making such assumptions. Science Media Centre

Still, it's no wonder people are buzzing about this. The study directly challenges dietary approaches for brain health, like the MIND diet, which often recommends limiting cheese. So, what exactly was shown, and how should we interpret it? Lund University

A Quick Look at the Study "By the Numbers"

The study is a prospective cohort study that tracked 27,670 people in Sweden over a period of up to 25 years. The baseline average age was 58.1 years, and 61% of participants were women. During the follow-up period, 3,208 people developed dementia. PubMed

Dietary intake was assessed through "one-week food records" and interviews about intake frequency over recent years. The focus was on **"high-fat cheese" and "high-fat cream"**.

• Those who consumed more than 50g of high-fat cheese (over 20% fat) daily had a 13% lower risk of dementia compared to those who consumed less than
  15g. They also had a 29% lower risk of vascular dementia
  . PubMed

• Those who consumed more than 20g of high-fat cream (over 30% fat) daily had a
  16% lower risk of dementia compared to those who did not consume it. PubMed

• On the other hand, no clear associations were found for **low-fat cheese/low-fat cream/milk (both high-fat and low-fat)/butter/fermented milk (such as yogurt)**. Aan

Understanding the quantities is also important. According to the AAN, 50g of cheese is roughly equivalent to two slices of cheddar (or half a cup of shredded cheese), and 20g of cream is about 1.4 tablespoons. Rather than "a lot every day," some people might relate more to "two slices of cheese in a sandwich." Aan

Why Might "High-Fat" Be Effective?

Researchers and commentary articles have proposed several hypotheses (note: these are hypotheses, not confirmed facts).

• Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, K2, etc.) and minerals tend to remain in the "full-fat side"

• Peptides produced through fermentation (in cheese) may affect blood vessels and metabolism

• Connections with gut health, inflammation, and vascular health (i.e., brain blood flow) Science Media Centre+1

The key point is that while it's a "brain disease," it is closely linked to cardiovascular health. The reduction in vascular dementia risk (29%) can be easily understood in this context. Aan

But Here's the Catch: It's Not "Eat to Prevent"

Expert comments are quite cautious. Comments gathered by the Science Media Centre (UK) also emphasize that

• this is an observational study and cannot establish causation

• Those who consume more cheese might have higher education levels, suggesting their overall lifestyle might be more "health-oriented"

• Diet records from 25 years ago may not reflect consistent habits over 25 years (diets change)

These limitations have been pointed out. Science Media Centre

Furthermore, the WHO guidelines repeatedly emphasize that rather than focusing on "single foods," it's more important to consider the "overall score" of lifestyle factors such as exercise, non-smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, weight management, blood pressure/lipid/glucose management, and a healthy diet. World Health Organization

In essence, this study raises the question of whether the simplistic equation of "fat = bad" might be too crude, rather than providing a free pass to
"increase cheese consumption"
.

Reactions on Social Media: Celebration and Criticism Simultaneously Erupt

It's almost a given that topics like this will gain traction on social media. On science-related threads on Reddit, reactions generally fall into three categories.

1) "What do the 'X%' headlines really mean?"

The stronger the numerical impact, the more such questions arise.
"What is the 15% relative to? What about absolute risk?" The dissatisfaction with headlines that only highlight relative risk is a common theme. Reddit

2) "Isn't this an observational study? Could it be due to 'health awareness differences'?"

The next most common reaction is to point out the study's limitations.
"Diet records are unreliable," "Ultimately, those who are health-conscious tend to have better outcomes," reflecting skepticism about "residual confounding." Reddit

3) "Cheese is delicious anyway. I'll take it as good news."

Regardless of the logic, this is often how people feel.
"Then I'll keep eating it (in moderation)," reflecting the "convenient adoption" mindset typical of social media. Reddit

4) "Ultimately, there's the reality of cheap and convenient food."

As health information becomes more popular, the reality that "healthy eating takes money and time" also emerges. Reddit

—In summary, social media is
a mix of joy (cheese enthusiasts) × skepticism (statistics/confounding enthusiasts) × reality (cost/time enthusiasts)
, as usual.

So, What Should We Do Starting Today? A Practical Approach

If we were to incorporate this study into daily life, the conclusion is simple.

• Don't assume "low-fat is the only answer" (but don't overeat)

• Before adding "more cheese," prioritize the foundation of lifestyle habits (exercise, sleep, blood pressure/glucose/lipid management) World Health Organization

• If you do eat it,

  • Use as a guideline: 50g of cheese per day = about two slices of cheddar

  • Choose simple, minimally processed cheeses over "cheese-like products"

  • Pair with "overall meals" like vegetables, beans, fish, whole grains (don't rely on cheese alone) Aan

For those with chronic conditions (dyslipidemia, hypertension, kidney disease, etc.), it's safer to consult healthcare providers due to potential impacts from salt and saturated fatty acids.

Finally: The Most Important Insight from This Study

The takeaway from this topic is not that "cheese is a miracle food," but rather
"nutrition is about context, not labels."