A recent study revealed that restricting daily meals to an eight- to nine-hour eating window may offer benefits for brain health.
As per study, which is currently in the preliminary stage presented at NUTRITION 2026, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.
During the research, scientists from Rutgers University discovered that women aged 50 to 79 who followed time-restricted eating while maintaining their calorie deficit, showed better performance on certain cognitive tests than those who spread their meals across a typical 12-hour period.
The six-month study involved 47 overweight or obese women, all of whom were instructed to reduce their daily calorie intake by approximately 500 calories.
Of the participants, 26 consumed all of their meals within an average 8.2-hour window, while the remaining women ate over an average 12.3-hour period.
Better thinking skills, but more research required
By the end of the trial, both groups had lost nearly 15 pounds on average. However, the women who limited their eating window showed better performance in spatial planning and problem-solving skills.
Moreover, they made some errors on learning and memory tests, although those results were not significant.
No noticeable differences were discovered in reaction time and or multitasking abilities.
Lead researcher Sue Shapses, a professor at Rutgers University and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, stated the findings suggest that meal timing may offer extra cognitive benefits beyond weight loss alone.
She also mentioned that stopping food intake about four hours before bedtime and limiting eating to eight or nine hours each day could help reduce age-related cognitive decline.
Researchers believe the benefits may be associated with the body's circadian rhythm, metabolism, inflammation and nutrient-sensing pathways, though further investigation is needed.
Experts cautioned that the findings are still preliminary, as the study has not yet undergone peer review and involved a relatively small number of participants.
It is pertinent to mention that researchers stressed the need for further research to determine whether time-restricted eating can meaningfully improve long-term brain health.
