Restricting daily eating to a nine-hour window may be associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia, particularly for overweight women, according to research presented by scientists from Rutgers University. The findings, shared at the American Society of Nutrition in Maryland, indicate that this form of intermittent fasting, known as time-restricted eating (TRE), could provide additional cognitive advantages.
The study involved 47 women aged 50 to 79 who were overweight or obese. All participants reduced their daily calorie intake by 500. A subset of 26 women also adhered to a nine-hour eating window, while the remainder followed a more typical eating schedule.
After six months, both groups achieved a similar average weight loss of 6.8 kilograms. However, the women practicing TRE demonstrated significant improvements in spatial planning and problem-solving tests. They also made fewer errors in memory and learning assessments, although no notable differences were observed in multitasking or reaction time tests.
Researchers hypothesize that eating patterns can influence circadian rhythms, which regulate crucial bodily functions like sleep cycles, body temperature, and hormone release. Dr. Sue Shapses, a professor at Rutgers University and Rutgers-RWJ Medical Center who led the study, stated that while weight loss is known to help mitigate age-related cognitive decline, the findings suggest that further benefits may be gained by restricting food intake to an 8-9 hour period, especially when the eating window concludes at least four hours before bedtime.
"These outcomes suggest a better ability to remember information during everyday tasks and reducing mistakes related to memory, attention and problem-solving," Dr. Shapses noted. "Reductions in the eating window predicted greater improvements."
The researchers emphasized the need for larger studies to confirm these results. They highlighted that as populations age, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia increases, with women and individuals who are overweight or obese facing a higher risk. While diet and lifestyle factors have been implicated in dementia risk, this study explores the specific impact of modifying eating timing.