Reducing eating window to 9 hours may stave off cognitive decline, study shares
In a six-month pilot, 26 women who ate within nine hours scored better on planning and memory tests than 12-hour eaters, researchers said.
- Researchers from Rutgers University presented findings at the American Society for Nutrition in Maryland, reporting that restricting daily eating to a nine-hour window may help stave off cognitive decline in older adults.
- Of the 47 women aged 50 to 79 participating in the study, both groups lost an average of 7kg over six months via a 500-calorie daily deficit; the time-restricted group showed better cognitive performance.
- Professor Wendy Hall of King College London said, "Time-restricted eating is a plausible approach to supporting cognitive health," noting that avoiding large meals late in the evening may improve blood sugar control, vascular function and inflammation.
- Dementia remains the leading cause of death in the UK and the seventh leading cause worldwide, accounting for nearly two million deaths annually; experts believe nearly half of cases could be prevented through lifestyle changes.
- Professor Sue Shapses described the effects as "modest" and noted findings are preliminary; researchers now hope to investigate why meal timing influences cognitive health, exploring factors like circadian rhythms and metabolism.
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People who followed a pattern of limiting meals over a period showed improvements in areas such as spatial planning and problem solving
A pilot study suggests that limiting meals to less than nine hours a day could bring benefits for some cognitive functions during aging.
Skipping This Habit Before Bed Could Help Protect Against Cognitive Decline
Managing cholesterol, maintaining eye health, socialising, regularly exercising, and maintaining a balanced diet (with zero booze), are just some of the ways people can protect against cognitive decline – specifically, dementia – in older age.And now, a new clinical trial suggests sticking to a set eating schedule might also benefit brain function.Women who only ate during a nine-hour window and avoided eating anything in the four hours leading …
A new study presented in NUTRITION 2026, the annual meeting of the American Nutrition Society, this weekend, pointed out that restricting the timing of meals can reduce the cognitive decline that occurs during aging. In the research, participants who ate for only nine hours of the day had better results than those who could feed freely.
Scientists link four-hour rule before bed to sharper memory and lower dementia risk
Confining meals to a nine-hour daily window and ceasing to eat at least four hours before bedtime could help stave off dementia, according to a clinical trial being unveiled today at NUTRITION 2026, the American Society for Nutrition's annual conference near Washington, DC.The pilot study, led by Professor Sue Shapses of Rutgers University, examined older women carrying excess weight and discovered those who narrowed their eating hours showed sh…
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