Studies confirm that fermented dairy products can slow cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia across the Alpine region.
Populations in Alpine countries are rapidly aging. In Italy, projections show that by 2051, there will be 280 people over 65 for every 100 young adults. Switzerland, Austria, and southern Germany follow a similar trend: People are living longer, but cognitive disorders and dementia are also becoming more prevalent. According to the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people currently live with some form of dementia—a number that continues to grow.
Increasing evidence shows that diet has a direct effect on brain health. In the spotlight are foods that have long been part of Alpine culinary tradition: fermented dairy products and aged cheeses.
Strong nutritional allies for the brain
Researchers from Japan, Italy, and the Netherlands have found that the regular consumption of aged cheeses is associated with improved memory, faster cognitive processing, and a lower risk of dementia. Compounds like oleamide and dehydroergosterol, which develop during cheese fermentation (particularly in bloomy-rind cheeses like Camembert), possess powerful anti-inflammatory properties in the brain. Oleamide also contributes to better sleep and activates neuroprotective CB2 receptors.
A study conducted in Japan showed that elderly people who consumed aged cheese over three months had better memory and higher levels of BDNF, a neurotrophin responsible for neural regeneration and brain plasticity.
Cheese as preventive medicine
Traditional Alpine cheeses—such as Gruyère, Tête de Moine, Bergkäse, Bitto, Pecorino, and even Mozzarella or blue cheeses—are not just delicacies but also nutritional tools for brain aging prevention. Rich in proteins, vitamins, and bioactive compounds, these cheeses combine gastronomy with function.
Incorporating them into a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle has been linked to maintaining cognitive health, even in individuals with early signs of decline.
From the Alps to the mind
The Alpine region, renowned for its dairy heritage, is gaining recognition as a partner in cognitive longevity. Cheeses matured on the slopes of Monte Rosa, in the Jura valleys, or the Tyrolean hills are no longer just culinary pleasures—they are becoming part of a brain-healthy future.
Longevity might just begin in a cheese cellar.
