Published in npj Aging, researchers studied mice fed a high-fat diet for seven months and found that those following an eight-hour feeding schedule had healthier fat-derived stem cells than mice given unrestricted access to food. The stem cells showed improved growth, migration and differentiation, while also displaying molecular changes associated with a more youthful regenerative profile. 

The authors suggest that time-restricted eating may help counter age-related declines in stem cell function through dietary intervention alone, without the need for genetic modification. However, they emphasise that the findings are based on an animal model and that human studies are needed to determine whether similar benefits occur in clinical practice.