Epistemology Alert: This story is based on data from an epidemiological study, not a randomized controlled trial that fed people cheese and wine or other foods. (Epistemology is a fancy way of saying how we know what we know.) As a result, the data are connected, but we don’t know if their connection is cause-and-effect.
Diet and Cognitive Function:
Previous studies suggested that a Mediterranean-style diet could help ward off dementia. The current study utilized data from the UK Biobank (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Nov 24, 2020). 1,787 British adults between 46 and 77 years of age provided detailed information about their eating habits. They described tea, coffee and alcohol consumption. In addition, they tallied how often they ate fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, bread, cheese and cereal.
To determine cognitive performance, the researchers administered the Fluid Intelligence Test (FIT). To the surprise of the investigators, people who ate cheese daily had better FIT scores. The correlation was significant regardless of the volunteers’ family histories of dementia or their APOE gene variants.
Further, those with family histories of cognitive problems benefited from drinking red wine in moderation on a regular basis. Perhaps because the data were collected in the UK, where lamb is popular, the participants who ate it once a week scored higher on their tests. People who were at particular risk for Alzheimer’s disease because of their genetic make-up fared worse on the FIT if they ate a lot of salt.
Should You Indulge in Cheese and Wine?
These scientists conclude:
“Observations further suggest in risk status-dependent manners that adding cheese and red wine to the diet daily, and lamb on a weekly basis, may also improve long-term cognitive outcomes.”
While we love cheese and wine, we will be looking for interventional studies before accepting that such a daily habit will save our brains. You can share your thoughts on this topic in the comments section.
