Later Breakfasts Linked to Potential Cognitive Decline in Seniors, Study Finds
PALO ALTO, CA – A new study suggests that shifting to later meal times, particularly breakfast, as people age may be linked to cognitive issues, challenging the common observation that older adults prefer earlier meals.The research, recently published, adds to a growing body of evidence highlighting the benefits of an early breakfast for overall health and longevity.
Researchers found that participants in the study tended to eat their meals later in life, a surprising trend given the known tendency for older adults to wake earlier. This shift in meal timing, especially regarding breakfast, warrants further examination, experts say.
“It’s counterintuitive from what we see in everyday living,” says Deborah Kado, MD, a geriatrics specialist and co-director of the Stanford Longevity Center in Palo Alto, California. “My observation at assisted living facilities is that older people want to eat earlier.” dr. Kado, who was not involved in the study, emphasized the need for broader research to confirm if this later eating pattern is a widespread trend. She also noted observing more cognitive issues in her patients who eat later in the day. “If you’re caring for an older adult and you see a change in their meal timing, particularly with breakfast, you might question them,” she advises. “You may ask, ‘Hey, I’ve noticed that you’ve had a change in yoru behaviour. Why do you think that is?'”
The study, though, does have limitations.Findings were based on self-reported data, which can be unreliable, and the participant pool was limited to individuals from the United Kingdom, largely of European ancestry, and predominantly women. Researchers also did not collect data on what participants were eating, only when.
“Additionally, only timing was assessed, and not what was actually eaten, so there is no dietary data to determine if diet composition may have an impact,” explained Kathryn nicole Starr, PhD, an associate professor of medicine and senior fellow with the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development at the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, who was also not involved in the research.
Despite these limitations, the findings support existing research demonstrating the positive effects of an early breakfast on heart health, blood sugar control, and weight management.”Up until now, we had limited insight into how the timing of meals evolves later in life and how this shift relates to overall health and longevity,” says the study’s author, Dashti. “These results add new meaning to the saying ‘Breakfast is the most meaningful meal of the day,’ especially for older individuals.”
The research underscores the importance of considering meal timing as a factor in maintaining cognitive health and overall well-being as we age,building on the established links between metabolism and circadian rhythms.
