Time-Restricted Eating Improves Cognitive Function in Older Overweight Women, Study Finds
A recent small-scale study involving 47 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 with overweight or obesity suggests that limiting daily eating to a window of less than nine hours may enhance cognitive functions such as planning and problem-solving. Conducted over six months, the randomized trial divided participants into two groups: both reduced their daily calorie intake by 500 calories, but only 26 women also restricted their eating to a maximum nine-hour period, typically between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., avoiding food intake in the four hours before bedtime.
Both groups experienced similar weight loss, with the time-restricted group losing an average of 7.5 kilograms compared to 6.1 kilograms in the calorie-restriction-only group. However, cognitive testing revealed significant improvements in planning and problem-solving abilities only among those who limited their eating window. Memory and learning tests showed fewer errors in the time-restricted group, although differences in multitasking, reaction time, and sleep quality were not statistically significant.
The findings were presented on July 26 at the NUTRITION 2026 conference in Maryland by Brandon D. McGuire, a Rutgers University doctoral candidate. The study has yet to undergo peer review and was published only as an abstract. Clinical dietitian Michal Sookman from Maccabi Healthcare Services highlighted the potential importance of meal timing for brain health but cautioned that larger studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions about preventing cognitive decline or dementia.
The research aligns with broader evidence linking obesity in midlife to a 30% increased risk of dementia later in life. It also underscores the role of the circadian system, which coordinates bodily processes with environmental cues like meal timing and light cycles. Most Americans and Britons currently eat over a 12-hour period daily, leaving about 10 hours of fasting overnight. Previous meta-analyses have associated time-restricted eating with improvements in weight, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.
Experts recommend avoiding heavy meals close to bedtime to prevent digestive discomfort and sleep disturbances, suggesting light meals with balanced macronutrients if eating before sleep. The researchers plan further studies to explore mechanisms behind the cognitive benefits, including interactions between circadian rhythms, nutrient processing, inflammation, and metabolic health.
