Fasting boosts memory if done 4 hours before bed

Restricting eating to a 9-hour window and fasting for 4 hours before bed may help preserve mental acuity, according to research cited in The Guardian.

Obesity during middle age elevates dementia risk by 30%; nearly half of all dementia cases could be delayed or prevented through lifestyle changes.

A clinical pilot study by Professor Sue Shapses at Rutgers University recruited 47 women aged 50-79 with overweight or obesity, who reduced daily caloric intake by 500 calories for 6 months.

Twenty-six women confined eating to a 9-hour window (10 am-6 pm) and lost ~7 kg, similar to those eating over 12 hours, but showed better spatial planning and problem-solving test results.