Limiting daily food intake to an eight- to nine-hour window may be associated with modest improvements in memory and certain cognitive abilities among older women, according to preliminary research presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual conference, Nutrition 2026.
The findings suggest that when people eat may matter alongside what and how much they eat, particularly as they age.
The six-month pilot study involved 47 women aged between 50 and 79 who were overweight or living with obesity and had gone through menopause. All participants were instructed to reduce their daily calorie intake by about 500 calories.
Shorter eating window linked to better cognitive performance
Researchers divided the participants into two groups.
One group limited its daily eating period to an average of 8.2 hours, roughly between 10am and 6pm. The second group consumed their food over an average period of 12.3 hours.
Both groups lost around 15 pounds during the six-month study.
However, women who followed the shorter eating window performed better on some cognitive tests, including spatial planning and problem-solving.
They also made fewer mistakes on memory tests.
Researchers, however, found no significant differences between the groups in reaction speed or the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
Dr Sue Shapses of Rutgers University, who led the research, said the findings indicated fewer memory-related errors during everyday activities among participants following time-restricted eating.
Why could meal timing affect the brain?
Researchers say the findings add to growing interest in the relationship between meal timing, metabolism and brain health.
Dr Lori Wright, an associate professor at the University of South Florida, said the study was notable because it examined not only the amount and type of food people consume but also when they eat.
Experts suggest that extending the period between the last meal of the day and the next meal may improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation and support cellular repair processes, which could potentially benefit long-term brain health.
Nutritionist Ruben De Chino said periods without food could give the digestive system and other organs a chance to “rest”, potentially reducing inflammation and physiological stress.
Researchers urge caution
Experts stressed that time-restricted eating should not be considered a single solution for maintaining brain health.
Dr Wright said established measures such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, and following a balanced Mediterranean-style diet have stronger evidence supporting their benefits.
The researchers also cautioned that intermittent fasting may not be suitable for everyone.
Children and teenagers, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with eating disorders and people with diabetes who use insulin should not adopt such eating patterns without medical advice.
The researchers said the findings are preliminary and that larger studies will be needed to determine whether restricting eating hours directly improves cognitive health or whether other factors contribute to the observed benefits.
