May 4, 2024

Balanced Meal Timing: A Recipe for Enhanced Cognitive Health

Research exposes a connection between the temporal patterns of energy consumption (TPEI) and cognitive function in middle-aged and older grownups. The research study found that compared to those with an “evenly-distributed” pattern of energy consumption, people with out of balance TPEIs, particularly those avoiding breakfast, had significantly lower cognitive function ratings over a ten-year duration. This recommends that keeping balanced TPEIs might possibly benefit cognitive health, highlighting the requirement for optimum TPEIs in preventing cognitive decline.
A research study indicates a connection between meal timing patterns and cognitive function, exposing that balanced energy intake throughout the day, instead of skipping meals like breakfast, helps preserve cognitive health in middle-aged and older adults.
Internationally, there are roughly 55 million people who suffer from dementia, and the occurrence of the illness has actually steadily increased. This population is anticipated to triple by 2050, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Dementia affects not only the quality of life of individuals, however also includes considerable economic burdens to households and society.
Epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between the temporal distribution of energy consumption during a day (TPEI) and the threat of various persistent diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Nevertheless, evidence regarding the relationship in between TPEI and cognitive function at the population level is relatively lacking.

Previous research studies in animal models have actually shown that the interruption in meal timing can trigger alterations in clock rhythms in the hippocampus, thus impacting cognitive function. According to a short-term intervention trial of 96 young people, dividing equal quantities of food into four meals between 9 am and 3 pm could enhance cognitive function compared to consuming twice between 9 am and 3 pm. However, long-term study is doing not have about the TPEIs and cognitive function.
Temporal patterns of energy consumption amongst participants in the China Health and Nutrition Study. Credit: Hui Chen, Yang Tao, Min-Dian Li, Yuxuan Gu, Jiaxi Yang, You Wu, Dongmei Yu, Changzheng Yuan
Recently, Drs. Changzheng Yuan and Dongmei Yu at Zhejiang University released a paper in Life Metabolism entitled “Temporal patterns of energy consumption and cognitive function and its decline: a community-based cohort study in China” Based on the China Nutrition Health Survery (CHNS) public database, an overall of 3,342 individuals were included in this research study, who were middle-aged and older adults (indicate age 62 years) from 9 provinces in China with a baseline age ≥ 55 years.
The researchers used: 1) A data-driven k-means algorithm to recognize 6 patterns of TPEIs, consisting of “evenly-distributed” pattern, “breakfast-dominant” pattern, “lunch-dominant” pattern, “dinner-dominant” pattern, “snack-rich” pattern, and “breakfast-skipping” pattern; 2) Cognitive function was examined using the customized Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m), comprising instant and postponed word recalls (20 points), backward counting (2 points), and serial-7 subtraction test (5 points). The total international cognitive score varied from 0 to 27, with a higher score representing a much better cognitive function; 3) The connection of TPEIs to cognitive function over 10 years was examined utilizing linear combined models (LMMs), which was adjusted for age, gender, house, overall energy, exercise, smoking status, alcohol intake, family earnings, education level, and body mass index (BMI).
The result showed that, compared to those with “evenly-distributed” pattern, the long-lasting cognitive function scores were substantially lower in those who had out of balance TPEIs, particularly those with “breakfast-skipping” pattern. Therefore, preserving well balanced TPEIs has potentially favorable impacts on cognitive health, whereas skipping breakfast may substantially increase the danger of cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults. In conclusion, this research study highlights the significance of ideal TPEIs in cognitive function.
Reference: “Temporal patterns of energy consumption and cognitive function and its decrease: a community-based mate study in China” by Hui Chen, Yang Tao, Min-Dian Li, Yuxuan Gu, Jiaxi Yang, You Wu, Dongmei Yu and Changzheng Yuan, 7 July 2022, Life Metabolism.DOI: 10.1093/ lifemeta/loac011.
Funding: Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Zhejiang University Education Foundation Global Partnership Fund.

Research study exposes a correlation in between the temporal patterns of energy intake (TPEI) and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults. The research study found that compared to those with an “evenly-distributed” pattern of energy intake, individuals with unbalanced TPEIs, especially those avoiding breakfast, had considerably lower cognitive function ratings over a ten-year duration. The result revealed that, compared with those with “evenly-distributed” pattern, the long-term cognitive function ratings were considerably lower in those who had unbalanced TPEIs, especially those with “breakfast-skipping” pattern. Thus, keeping well balanced TPEIs has potentially positive results on cognitive health, whereas skipping breakfast might considerably increase the danger of cognitive decline in middle-aged and older grownups.