A new study suggests that restricting daily eating hours may protect against age-related cognitive decline, offering benefits beyond standard weight loss.
The research was presented at the NUTRITION 2026 conference on July 27, 2026.
Conducted by Rutgers University, the six-month pilot study involved 47 women aged 50 to 79 who were overweight or obese.
All participants reduced their daily energy intake by 500 calories.
Eating Window and Cognitive Gains
Twenty-six participants limited their eating window to under nine hours, averaging 8.2 hours per day, typically between 10 AM and 6 PM.
The remaining 21 women ate across a standard 12-hour period, averaging 12.3 hours daily.
Both groups lost about 15 pounds (6.8 kg) on average.
However, those in the time-restricted group performed better on tests of spatial planning, problem-solving, and memory, making fewer errors.
No significant differences were found in multitasking or reaction times.
“Losing weight alone will ward off some of the aging-related cognitive decline, and these data suggest that there may be additional benefits if you stop eating 4 hours prior to going to sleep and reduce food intake to 8-9 hours per day,” said Sue Shapses, professor at Rutgers and principal investigator.
Researchers noted that shorter eating windows directly predicted greater cognitive improvements, particularly in memory retention during routine tasks.
“These outcomes suggest a better ability to remember information during everyday tasks and reducing mistakes related to memory, attention and problem-solving,” Shapses added.
The study highlights a potential lifestyle intervention as cognitive health issues rise.
Larger trials are needed to confirm results and examine mechanisms like circadian rhythms, inflammation, and metabolic pathways.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, an estimated 982,000 people in the UK live with dementia, a figure projected to reach 1.4 million by 2040.
