Nine-hour eating window may help protect brain health, study suggests
A nine-hour eating window may improve memory and problem-solving, although experts say more research is needed before recommending intermittent fasting for brain health
Restricting meals to a nine-hour daily eating window could improve brain function and potentially reduce the risk of cognitive decline, although experts say more research is needed before people change their diets
Intermittent fasting could benefit brain health alongside weight loss
A small study involving 47 overweight or obese women aged between 50 and 79 found those who ate all their meals within nine hours a day showed modest improvements in memory, learning and problem-solving compared with those who spread their meals over a typical 12-hour period
All participants reduced their daily calorie intake by around 500 calories and lost an average of 6.8kg over six months. However, researchers found those following the shorter eating window experienced additional cognitive benefits
Sue Shapses, professor at Rutgers University and the study’s lead investigator, told The Independent: “There was a modest effect of time-restricted eating to improve spatial planning and problem-solving, and on reducing errors related to memory and learning
“These outcomes suggest a better ability to remember information during everyday tasks, and reduced mistakes related to memory, attention and problem-solving. Reductions in the eating window predicted greater improvements.”
Researchers cautioned that the trial was relatively small and further studies are needed to determine whether time-restricted eating can help prevent dementia and to understand the biological mechanisms behind the findings
Nutrition experts also stressed that intermittent fasting is not necessarily superior to other diets for weight loss. Registered dietitian and University of Lancashire lecturer Vassiliki Sinopoulou said: “Any reduction in calories can lead to weight loss. This is no different to any other diet.”
Amie Leckie, a nutritionist at Heart Research UK, said some evidence suggests fasting may also improve cholesterol levels, blood pressure and inflammation, all of which are linked to cardiovascular health
However, longevity researcher Dr Valter Longo warned against longer fasting periods, particularly 16-hour fasts that involve skipping breakfast
He said there was evidence that such eating patterns could be associated with higher cholesterol levels and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, arguing that a more moderate 12-hour eating window, combined with a diet rich in vegetables, legumes, wholegrains, nuts and fish, is more closely linked with healthy ageing
The findings add to growing evidence that when it comes to long-term health, the overall quality of the diet and maintaining a healthy weight remain more important than following any single eating trend
