Study links intermittent fasting to improved cognitive skills

Here’s some food for thought.

Researchers may have found a potential link between brain health and daily eating schedules, according to new findings recently shared at the Nutrition 2026 annual meeting hosted by the American Society for Nutrition.

Cognitive skills were found to be better for those who limit their food consumption to a daily eight- to nine-hour window and stopped eating at least four hours before bedtime the study found. Test subjects who stuck to the strict window for meals showed significantly better results on tests measuring spatial planning and problem solving.

“Losing weight alone will ward off some of the aging-related cognitive decline,” said Sue Shapses, principal investigator of the study.

The six-month study focused on 47 overweight and obese women ages 50 to 79. All were instructed to reduce their daily caloric intake by 500 calories. However, 26 of the participants were asked to consume all daily meals within nine hours, while the remaining 21 were allotted a more typical 12-hour eating period.

Though both groups averaged about the same 15-pound weight loss during the study, intermittent fasting appeared to create stark mental differences. Those eating during the more restricted time period produced stronger cognitive results and were shown to make fewer mistakes on tests involving memory and learning.

“These outcomes suggest a better ability to remember information during everyday tasks and reducing mistakes related to memory, attention and problem-solving,” Shapses said.

Obesity is considered a risk factor for cognitive decline. Researchers have found that excess fat tissue contributes to inflammation that can harm the brain, and that eating consistently between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. is found to align with the body’s natural circadian rhythms that can enhance the body’s ability to burn fat.