Cheese: The Unexpected Ally in Combating Dementia, According to a Japanese Study

Food influences much more than our figure or our daily energy. Certain choices, even trivial ones, could have a discreet impact on the longevity of our cognitive functions. Among them, a food often relegated to simple taste pleasure is today attracting the attention of researchers. The link between cheese and dementia is intriguing, not for its spectacular promises, but for the recurring signals it sends from several epidemiological studies.

A discreet but real protective effect observed in the Japanese

In Japan, where dairy products occupy a modest place in the traditional diet, cheese receives little attention. However, a team of researchers from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) revealed that its regular consumption could well play an unexpected role in the prevention of dementia. For three years, scientists followed more than 7,900 people aged 65 or older, all living independently at the start of the study. Using careful statistical matching between cheese consumers and non-consumers, they found an incidence of dementia of 3.4% among the former, compared to 4.5% among the latter.

The difference may seem minimal, but it corresponds to 10.6 fewer cases per 1000 people over three years. This result, published in the journal Nutrients, highlights a link considered modest but robust. It remains prudent, however, to assess its real scope. The food factor is isolated here within a very controlled environment, in a country where the average annual cheese consumption remains much lower than that observed in Europe.

Why the link between cheese and dementia intrigues scientists

Cheese concentrates several nutrients interesting for the brain. It contains proteins and amino acids essential for the preservation of nerve cells, but also fat-soluble vitamins such as K2. The latter plays a key role in regulating calcium in the blood, a crucial element for vascular health. At the same time, fermented cheeses (although in the minority in the Japanese study) sometimes offer bioactive peptides and probiotic bacteria capable of interacting with the gut-brain axis and modulating inflammatory processes.

The study did not identify an optimal dose or clearly distinguish the effects of different types of cheese, but it corroborates results already observed elsewhere. In Finland, long-term monitoring revealed a 28% reduction in the risk of dementia among heavy cheese consumers, while in Japan, another study looked at Camembert, with equally positive results. Work from the UK Biobank has even shown that cheese consumption could influence the functional connectivity of the brain according to certain genetic variants, particularly in carriers of the APOE4 gene.

These observations are not sufficient to establish a cause and effect link. However, they suggest that certain compounds in cheese, alone or in synergy with other foods, could contribute to better cognitive resilience.

Should we rethink our diet in the face of the challenge of dementia?

The number of people with dementia worldwide reached almost 60 million in 2021 (with 10 million new cases each year), according to the World Health Organization report, and this figure is expected to triple by 2050. At the same time, demographic aging is accelerating in countries like Japan, where 12.3% of those over 65 are affected. Faced with the absence of curative treatment, prevention becomes central. It involves physical activity, social stimulation, but also diet.

In this context, even a modest nutritional effect can have a collective impact, especially in aging societies. If we combine a balanced diet with other preventive measures, the moderate addition of foods rich in brain-friendly nutrients, such as certain cheeses, could become an accessible lever. It remains to better identify which precise types provide the benefits mentioned and in what quantities. The researchers themselves, in the study relayed by The Independent, call for further research before issuing official recommendations.

Without being a miracle solution, cheese stands out as a serious avenue in the fight against cognitive decline. Its rediscovery by Japanese research illustrates the extent to which food cultures, even modestly exposed to certain products, can reveal unexpected effects on brain health.