Cheese consumption is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.

Study: Dairy Consumption, Lactase Persistence, and Mortality Risk in a Cohort From Southern Sweden

People who ate cheese every day were less likely to die during the study than those who didn’t, while people who drank a lot of milk were more likely to die. This suggests cheese might be good for long-term health, which could include protecting the brain.

Study: Cheese consumption and multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review and updated meta-analysis of prospective studies

People who eat cheese regularly were found to be less likely to develop dementia, according to a big review of many studies. Eating about an ounce of cheese a day was linked to a 19% lower risk.

Study: High- and Low-Fat Dairy Consumption and Long-Term Risk of Dementia

People who ate at least a small slice of full-fat cheese every day were less likely to develop dementia over 25 years, according to this study. Other dairy like milk or low-fat cheese didn’t show the same benefit.

Study: The relationship between fermented food intake and mortality risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Netherlands cohort

This study found that people who ate a lot of cheese were less likely to die from stroke, which is a type of brain injury that can lead to dementia. So while it doesn’t prove cheese prevents dementia, it hints that cheese might help protect the brain in a related way.