Millions of people worldwide live with dementia, and nearly two million die from it each year – a staggering statistic that highlights the urgent need for effective prevention strategies. While age and genetics are unavoidable risk factors, research suggests that lifestyle modifications could potentially delay or prevent up to half of all cases. One promising approach being explored is time-restricted eating (TRE), which involves confining daily mealtimes to a narrow window – typically eight to nine hours – and avoiding food for four hours before bedtime.
Dr Sue Shapses, a nutritional scientist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, US, believes that TRE may offer "additional benefits" beyond weight loss alone. A recent pilot study led by Professor Shapses investigated the effects of TRE on cognitive decline in older age. The trial involved 47 women aged between 50 and 79 who were overweight or obese – a significant risk factor for dementia. Participants were advised to reduce their daily calorie intake by 500 for six months, but with one crucial difference: 26 women followed a TRE regimen, consuming all their food within a nine-hour window (typically between 10am and 6pm), while the remaining 21 volunteers spread their meals over approximately 12 hours.
Although both groups achieved similar average weight loss of around 7kg, cognitive assessments revealed that the TRE group performed better on tests measuring spatial planning and problem-solving. The researchers also observed fewer errors on memory and learning tasks in this group – although performance was similar on multitasking and reaction time tests. These findings, presented at Nutrition 2026, suggest that TRE may enhance people's ability to recall information for daily tasks and reduce mistakes related to memory, attention, and problem-solving.
The study's preliminary results highlight the potential benefits of incorporating TRE into one's lifestyle to safeguard cognitive abilities. According to NHS guidelines, obesity in middle age increases the risk of developing dementia by 30%. While further research is needed to confirm these findings, the study's implications are clear: even modest weight loss and a restricted eating schedule may have significant effects on reducing the risk of cognitive decline.
The researchers now aim to investigate why timing our meals seems to play a crucial role in maintaining cognitive function. If corroborated by larger-scale studies, their work could lead to the development of evidence-based prevention strategies for dementia – offering new hope for those living with this devastating condition.