Healthcare

Nutrition over medication? Dairy offers brain benefits

Published: August 6, 2025

Ritchelle Drilon

Healthcare

Nutrition over medication? Dairy offers brain benefits

Ritchelle Drilon

A new clinical study has found that regular consumption of cow’s milk may help improve cognitive function and quality of life in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), reinforcing the potential role of nutrition in healthy ageing.

Published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, the double-blind, randomised controlled trial assessed 88 older Chinese adults with MCI over three months. Participants consumed two daily serves of either ordinary skim milk or A1 protein free (A1PF) skim milk. Researchers observed improvements in cognitive test scores in both groups, with greater gains reported among those consuming A1PF milk.

Lead researcher Professor Stephen Robinson of RMIT University described the findings as a “promising step forward” in understanding how diet can help maintain brain health in ageing populations.

“The most important finding from this study was that milk in general has benefits when consumed regularly by healthy older adults. While the group that received the A1PF milk showed a stronger effect… we saw important overall effects of dairy milk on aspects of cognitive performance, reported quality of life and vitamin D levels,” said Professor Robinson.

Greater Gains in A1PF Group

Both milk groups demonstrated cognitive improvements, but the A1PF group outperformed the ordinary milk group in several key tests:

MoCA scores: +20% improvement (A1PF) vs +9% (ordinary milk)
AVLT memory test: +22% (A1PF) vs +12% (ordinary milk)
SCIT error rate: 23% reduction in A1PF group, similar to ordinary milk, but observed earlier in the intervention

Participants consuming A1PF milk also reported significantly better quality of life outcomes:

23% increase in overall quality of life vs 17% for ordinary milk
43% improvement in memory ability vs 33%
15% improvement in self-care vs 11%
27% improvement in sleep quality vs 22%

The researchers noted no significant changes in inflammatory markers or glutathione levels, but found significant increases in vitamin D across both groups—though levels remained below recommended thresholds.

Implications for Australia’s Ageing Population

The study adds to a growing body of research investigating the role of milk proteins, particularly A1 and A2 beta-caseins, in cognitive health. A1PF milk is naturally free of A1 protein and may be easier to digest for some individuals.

Dr Emma Beckett, food and nutrition scientist at FOODiQ, said the findings point to the potential of simple dietary interventions in managing cognitive decline.

“This is an exciting study because it shows that a small dietary change, adding A1PF milk, may be effective for those experiencing cognitive changes… A1PF milk may offer an accessible way to support overall health and wellbeing, particularly in adults living with MCI,” said Dr Beckett.

With around 840,000 Australians over 65 estimated to be living with MCI, the study offers potential direction for future public health strategies. While MCI does not always progress to dementia, it can impact quality of life and daily functioning.

Dr Andrew Clarke, Chief Scientific Advisor at The a2 Milk Company, welcomed the findings, saying they underscore the broader health potential of nutrition.

“Importantly, the study highlights the potential for improving aspects of health and quality of life for the elderly through nutritional as opposed to pharmaceutical solutions,” Dr Clarke said.

The researchers cautioned that further studies are needed across different populations to confirm the findings and clarify the mechanisms behind the cognitive improvements observed.

Ritchelle Drilon

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Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.

Nutrition over medication? Dairy offers brain benefits

Ritchelle Drilon

Ritchelle Drilon

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