Time-Restricted Eating Improves Cognition in Older Women
Researchers said shorter eating windows predicted greater gains in learning and memory, but the findings need confirmation in a larger trial.
- Rutgers University researchers presented preliminary findings at the NUTRITION 2026 meeting suggesting that time-restricted eating may help preserve cognitive functions like problem-solving and spatial planning in women aged 50 to 79.
- The six-month clinical trial followed 47 women who reduced daily calories by 500, with one group restricting food intake to an average 8.2 hours daily compared to a 12-hour window for others.
- Participants in the time-restricted group showed greater improvements on spatial planning and problem-solving tests using the CANTAB battery, while also making fewer errors on memory and learning assessments.
- Principal investigator Sue Shapses noted that while cognitive effects were modest, the data suggest benefits from ending food intake four hours before sleep; both groups lost about 15 pounds.
- Researchers cautioned that the trial was small and preliminary, requiring larger peer-reviewed studies to confirm results, a concern echoed by Wendy Hall, a professor of nutritional sciences at King's College London.
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Time-Restricted Eating Tied to Cognitive Improvements in Older Women, Small Study Finds
A pilot study presented at NUTRITION 2026 suggests that time-restricted eating may improve cognitive function in older women beyond the effects of weight loss alone. The study, conducted by researchers at Rutgers University, enrolled 47 women between the ages of 50 and 79 who were overweight or obese. Participants were counseled to reduce daily calorie […]
Restricted Eating Hours May Reduce Cognitive Decline In Older Age, Researchers Find
Confining mealtimes and snacks to a nine-hour window and avoiding food for four hours before bed may help stave off cognitive decline in older age, researchers say. A pilot study of older women living with overweight or obesity found hints of improvement in mental skills among those who ate within the restricted period compared with those who spread their meals over a longer time. The finding is preliminary given the numbers in the trial, but if…
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