In good news for people who like the finer things in life, eating cheese and drinking red wine every day has been linked to a lowered risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers looked at a decade-long study measuring Britons' diets and how well they performed on a 'Fluid Intelligence Test', which provides "a snapshot of an individual's ability to 'think on the fly'".
They found "by far" cheese was the most protective food against age-related cognitive decline, followed by alcohol - particularly red wine.
"I was pleasantly surprised that our results suggest that responsibly eating cheese and drinking red wine daily are not just good for helping us cope with our current COVID-19 pandemic, but perhaps also dealing with an increasingly complex world that never seems to slow down," said principal investigator Auriel Willette of Iowa State University's Food Science and Human Nutrition department.
"Depending on the genetic factors you carry, some individuals seem to be more protected from the effects of Alzheimers, while others seem to be at greater risk," added co-researcher Brandon Klinedinst, a neuroscience PhD candidate.
"That said, I believe the right food choices can prevent the disease and cognitive decline altogether."
It's believed cheese contains not just useful proteins but vitamin B12, calcium and lactopeptides - all of which have been linked to improved cognition in previous research - but also bacteria, which could improve communication between the gut and brain.
A weekly meal of lamb - but not other red meat - also showed protection, but added salt had the opposite effect. The study also notes other kinds of alcohol - such as beer - have been linked to increased rates of cognitive decline.
The researchers say while they took into account study participants' incomes, they couldn't completely rule out that people who dine on wine and cheese are just wealthier and less likely to suffer health and cognitive declines as they age.
"Randomized clinical trials are needed to determine if making easy changes in our diet could help our brains in significant ways," said Dr Willette.
"Perhaps the silver bullet we're looking for is upgrading how we eat," said Klinedinst. "Knowing what that entails contributes to a better understanding of Alzheimer's and putting this disease in a reverse trajectory."
The research was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
