英语分级阅读 · Level 2 · health · 约 323 词
Eating in a shorter time window may help older adults keep their thinking skills sharp
A small study found that older women who ate only within a nine-hour window did better on some thinking tests than those who ate over a longer period, even though both groups lost the same amount of weight.
A new study suggests that eating within a shorter time window may help older adults keep their thinking skills sharp. Researchers led by Professor Sue Shapses at Rutgers University found that older women who limited their meals to a nine-hour period performed better on certain cognitive tests than those who ate over a longer day. The findings were presented at Nutrition 2026 in Maryland, and they offer a simple lifestyle change that could support brain health.
The trial included 47 women aged 50 to 79 who lived with overweight or obesity. All participants reduced their daily calorie intake by 500 calories for six months. However, the key difference was timing. Twenty-six women were asked to eat only between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., while the rest spread their meals over about 12 hours. Both groups lost a similar amount of weight, averaging about 7 kilograms, but the time-restricted group showed stronger results in spatial planning and problem-solving tasks.
Professor Shapses described the cognitive improvements as modest but potentially meaningful for everyday life. There were also hints of fewer errors in memory and learning tests, though no difference was found in multitasking or reaction time. Experts believe these results are promising, but larger studies are needed to confirm the effects and understand the biological reasons behind them.
This research matters because dementia is a leading cause of death worldwide, and obesity in middle age can raise dementia risk by 30 percent. Professor Wendy Hall of King’s College London noted that avoiding large meals late at night may improve blood sugar control, vascular function, and reduce inflammation. If future studies support these findings, time-restricted eating could become a practical tool for protecting brain health as people age.
The researchers plan to investigate how circadian rhythms, metabolism, and inflammation influence these cognitive benefits. For now, the study highlights the importance of when we eat, not just what we eat, for maintaining mental sharpness in later life.
中文参考
一项新研究表明，在较短的时间窗口内进食可能有助于老年人保持思维敏捷。罗格斯大学的Sue Shapses教授领导的研究发现，将用餐时间限制在九小时内的老年女性在部分认知测试中的表现优于那些全天进食时间较长的人。这些发现是在马里兰州举行的2026年营养大会上公布的，它们提供了一种简单的生活方式改变，可能有助于支持大脑健康。
这项试验包括47名年龄在50至79岁之间、患有超重或肥胖的女性。所有参与者都在六个月内每天减少500卡路里的热量摄入。然而，关键的区别在于时间。26名女性被要求在上午10点到下午6点之间进食，而其余的人则将餐食分散在约12小时内。两组都减重了相似的数量，平均约7公斤，但限时进食组在空间规划和解决问题任务中表现出更强的结果。
Shapses教授将这些认知改善描述为适度但可能对日常生活有意义。记忆和学习测试中也显示出错误减少的迹象，但在多任务处理和反应时间方面没有发现差异。专家认为这些结果很有希望，但需要更大的研究来确认效果并理解其背后的生物学原因。
这项研究很重要，因为痴呆症是全球主要的死亡原因之一，中年肥胖可使痴呆症风险增加30%。伦敦国王学院的Wendy Hall教授指出，避免在深夜吃大餐可能改善血糖控制、血管功能并减少炎症。如果未来的研究支持这些发现，限时进食可能成为保护大脑健康的一种实用工具。
研究人员计划调查昼夜节律、新陈代谢和炎症如何影响这些认知益处。目前，这项研究强调了进食时间的重要性，而不仅仅是进食内容，对于维持晚年思维敏捷性至关重要。