To reduce the risk of dementia, experts recommend maintaining adequate body weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and maintaining healthy blood pressure. As an indication, Alzheimer’s disease constitutes the most common form of dementia. Much research has also highlighted the potential role offood in preserving brain health. The adoption of a Mediterranean diet and the consumption of dairy products have been associated with the prevention of cognitive decline.
A new study led by Japanese researchers from Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute has just highlighted the virtues of a surprising food for preventing dementia: cheese! Top Santé shares with you the unexpected results of this study.
Eating cheese would improve cognitive performance
In order to explore the correlation between the brain health and dairy consumption, the research team analyzed data from more than 1,500 participants aged 65 and older in Tokyo. Participants were asked about their eating habits and health status. Nearly eight out of ten had included cheese in their food, whether daily, every other day, or once or twice a week. Processed cheeses were the most popular, followed by white mold cheeses such as Brie and Camembert, fresh cheeses such as Feta, and blue mold cheeses such as Camembert.
Participants were subjected to a exam of 30 points to assess their cognitive function, notably their orientation, their attentiontheir memory, their language and their visuospatial skills.
Brain: yes for cheese provided you consume it in moderation
THE results of this study indicated that people who included cheese in their food were less likely to score below normal, suggesting a better cognitive performance. However, the researchers stressed that this study, alone, cannot prove that cheese protects against mental health problems. To confirm these results, further research will be necessary.
It is also important to emphasize that, although the moderate cheese consumption may be linked to certain advantages for the cognitive health, maintaining a balanced diet remains essential for good health. Although cheese has many health benefits (first of all its richness in calcium), it must nevertheless be consumed in moderation. Cheese is generally high in fat and calories, which can lead to weight and cardiovascular health problems if overconsumed.
