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brain healthAugust 2, 2026

Time-restricted eating may help retain cognitive function in older adults

Original reporting: Time-restricted eating may help retain cognitive function in older adults

A woman eating at a kitchen counter.
Illustrative photo by Los Muertos Crew on Pexels

A six-month pilot study of 47 women ages 50 to 79 found a modest improvement in spatial planning and problem-solving with time-restricted eating. The participants had overweight or obesity, and the small trial cannot show that the approach prevents dementia.

Three things to remember

  • The pilot trial followed 47 women for six months.
  • Gains appeared in spatial planning and problem-solving, not every cognitive measure.
  • The study did not establish that time-restricted eating prevents dementia.

Source

This signal is based on Time-restricted eating may help retain cognitive function in older adults from Medical Xpress Nutrition. Read the original report for full context.

Health note: This was a small pilot study, so results are preliminary and may not apply to everyone.