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THIS delicious treat may have more health benefits than expected: in a recent study published in the open-access scientific journal Nutrients, a team of Japanese researchers have discovered that eating cheese once a week may lower chances of developing dementia by up to 24 per cent. Life is great, cheese makes it better The study, based on a population of 8,000 Japanese people aged 65 and older, gathered data to compare those who regularly eat cheese with those who rarely or never did, over a period of three years. The results suggest that those who eat cheese once a week may be at a lower risk of dementia compared to non-consumers, as by the end of the study, 3.4 per cent of regular cheese consumers had been diagnosed with dementia, compared with 4.45 per cent of those who rarely or never ate cheese. The overall difference may seem small, but it amounts to 10.6 fewer cases of dementia every 1,000 people. Not only this, the study also found that those who regularly eat cheese and went on to develop dementia did so slightly later than their counterparts who did not eat cheese regularly. Those who ate cheese were diagnosed an average of seven days later than those who did not. The many health contributions of queso Nutritional experts postulate several possible reasons cheese might positively influence brain health. Cheese contains, according to the study, “proteins and essential amino acids that support neuronal maintenance, as well as fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin K2, which plays a role in vascular health and calcium homeostasis.” The amino acids in cheese, aside from supporting neuronal health, also protect the brain from damage. There is also some evidence to suggest that fermented dairy products could influence inflammation and the gut-brain axis, which are believed to play a role in cognitive decline and in conditions like dementia. “In addition, fermented dairy products have been associated with lower risks of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, both of which are known risk factors for dementia,” continues the paper. The vitamins in cheese help to maintain a stable level of calcium in the blood, which is crucial for vascular health. Other, broader dietary and socioeconomic factors were also recorded in the study, including the individual’s health, education, and income. Wrote the researchers in the journal’s study, “Although the absolute risk reduction was slight, the findings are consistent with prior evidence suggesting potential cognitive benefits of fermented dairy products.” To be specific, the most common cheese type consumed among the participants was processed cheese, with a rate of 82.7 per cent, followed by white mould cheese (creamy, soft cheese such as camembert or brie), with a rate of 7.8 per cent. Further research needed to determine specifics Though the study suggests that eating cheese could be very beneficial for reducing the risk of dementia, further research is needed to determine whether cheese actually prevents dementia and other brain conditions, since the study was merely observational (showing an association but not definitely proving a cause and effect). Further research is also needed to determine ideal amounts of cheese and other underlying factors including cheese subtypes. More than 50 million people around the world had been diagnosed with dementia in 2021. According to the World Health Organisation’s Global Status Report on the Public Health Response to Dementia, the figure could increase more than threefold by the year 2050. In Japan, where the study was carried out, the society is rapidly ageing and dementia diagnoses have risen starkly in recent years. The number of cases of dementia in Japan are expected to increase from 4.4 million adults in 2022 to 5.8 million by the year 2040. In the UK, roughly one in 11 people aged 65 or older have dementia, equalling roughly 944,000 people. As for that strict diet, this information may be more than a reasonable excuse to add cheese to your next meal. Read more news about Health and Beauty here.
