8-hour eating window may reduce cognitive decline in women, study says

Key Points:

• A small six-month study presented at NUTRITION 2026 found that older women who restricted their eating to an 8-9 hour daily window showed slight improvements in cognitive functions like spatial planning and problem-solving compared to those eating over 12 hours.
• Both groups of postmenopausal obese or overweight women lost about 15 pounds, but the shorter eating-window group made fewer errors on memory and learning tests, suggesting potential brain health benefits beyond weight loss.
• Researchers believe time-restricted eating may support brain health by regulating circadian rhythms, reducing inflammation, and improving metabolic health, though larger and longer studies are needed to confirm these findings.
• Experts caution that intermittent fasting is not suitable for everyone and emphasize that other lifestyle factors like physical activity, sleep, and a healthy diet have stronger evidence for protecting cognitive function.
• Eating within a shorter window often leads to reduced calorie intake and weight loss, which also contributes to cognitive health, but meal timing should be considered as one part of a broader approach to healthy aging.