Overview
- The analysis, led by University of Auckland researcher David Moreau, synthesizes evidence on memory, decision-making, speed, and accuracy.
- The dataset includes 3,484 participants and is published in the American Psychological Association’s journal Psychological Bulletin.
- Modest cognitive declines appear when fasting stretches beyond about 12 hours.
- Children in the limited pediatric samples show more pronounced performance drops than adults.
- Performance dips are most evident on tasks with food-related cues, suggesting selective distraction rather than broad cognitive impairment.