Shorter daily eating windows may boost cognition in older women

In a small clinical trial presented at Nutrition 2026, 47 women aged 50 to 79 with overweight or obesity followed a calorie-restricted diet of 500 fewer calories per day. Twenty-six participants were asked to limit food intake to an average 8.2-hour window, typically between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., while the remaining participants ate over an average 12.3-hour period. Both groups lost roughly 15 pounds after six months.

However, the time-restricted eating group demonstrated statistically significant gains in spatial planning and problem-solving tests, and they made fewer mistakes on memory and learning tasks, though those differences did not reach significance. No notable changes were observed in reaction time or multitasking abilities. Principal Investigator Sue Shapses noted that the results suggest meal timing may offer modest cognitive benefits beyond weight loss, and she called for larger studies to confirm the findings and explore underlying mechanisms such as circadian rhythms and inflammation. The abstract was displayed during the Aging and Chronic Disease poster session at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.