Early Time-Restricted Eating, Body Clock Timing, and Memory Preservation in Older Adults: A Brain-Based Hypothesis

Nearly half of dementia cases are attributed to fourteen modifiable risk factors, with meal timing not included among them.

• Disrupted daily rhythms are linked to faster neurodegeneration.
• Early time-restricted eating (eTRE) is defined as consuming food within a 10-hour window, with most energy intake before 16:00.
• Three potential pathways for eTRE's effects on cognition include brain clearance of amyloid-beta and tau, inflammation regulation, and memory-related processes in the hippocampus.
• An AI analysis proposed that finishing meals early may reduce nervous-system arousal and insulin levels at night, potentially enhancing brain clearance during sleep.
• A planned three-arm trial will assess whether cognitive benefits are related to changes in markers of brain clearance and inflammation.
• Meal timing is suggested as a potential factor that requires further prospective testing.

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