Timed Eating May Protect Brains in Older Age, Study Suggests

Older adults might be able to protect their brains in later years by adopting specific eating habits, according to preliminary research. A study suggests that restricting meals to a nine-hour window and stopping eating four hours before bedtime could help slow cognitive decline.

The pilot study, involving older women who were overweight or obese, indicated that those who ate within a limited timeframe performed better on cognitive tests compared to women who spread their meals over a longer period. Specifically, participants who adhered to the time-restricted eating pattern showed improvements in problem-solving and spatial planning tests.

Researchers noted that while the weight loss achieved in the study might contribute to cognitive benefits, there could be additional advantages linked to the timing of food intake. The findings, though preliminary due to the small sample size, suggest that adopting a shorter eating window and avoiding late-night meals could be a strategy for preserving cognitive abilities. Dementia is a major global health concern, and experts believe lifestyle changes could prevent or delay a significant portion of cases.

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