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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Jane Kirby

New study reveals whether intermittent fasting impacts thinking skills

  • New research contradicts the common belief that skipping meals or intermittent fasting acutely impairs mental sharpness in adults.
  • A study published by the American Psychological Association found that intermittent fasting is unlikely to affect most adults' thinking in the short term.
  • Lead author David Moreau noted that cognitive performance remained remarkably stable across a broad range of diverse tasks, challenging widespread assumptions about hunger's impact.
  • Researchers analysed 71 existing studies involving 3,484 healthy adults, concluding there was generally no consistent evidence that short-term fasting impaired mental performance.
  • While fasting may offer health benefits beyond weight loss, some evidence suggests cognitive declines in children and potentially after more than 12 hours of fasting, particularly in food-related tasks.

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