Restricted eating hours may reduce cognitive decline in older age, researchers find
Summary
A small study found that older women who ate all their meals within nine hours and avoided food for four hours before bedtime showed slight improvement in mental skills compared to those who ate over a longer period. While the results are early, researchers say eating within a shorter time and not eating late at night may help protect brain function as people age.Key Facts
- The study involved 47 women aged 50 to 79 with overweight or obesity.
- Participants cut 500 calories daily for six months; 26 ate within a 9-hour window (around 10am to 6pm).
- Both groups lost a similar amount of weight (about 7 kg or 15 lbs).
- Women who restricted eating to 9 hours did better on tests of spatial planning and problem solving.
- They also showed signs of fewer errors in memory and learning tasks.
- Both groups performed similarly on multitasking and reaction time tests.
- The study was presented at the American Society for Nutrition meeting in Maryland.
- Researchers suggest timing of meals may affect brain health due to body clock, metabolism, and inflammation.
- Many people eat over 14 hours a day, but fasting longer overnight may improve health measures like weight and blood pressure.
- Experts say these early findings need confirmation from larger, peer-reviewed studies before firm conclusions.
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