Abstract
This study investigated the associations between the number of people eating together and regional brain volumes, nutrient intake, and food and beverage intake in cognitively unimpaired individuals. We found that eating alone was associated with lower total brain volume, particularly in the medial temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, insula, and hippocampus, compared with eating with others. In addition, individuals who ate alone had significantly higher intakes of sucrose, maltose, alcohol, tridecanoic acid, and heptanoic acid, as well as a higher carbohydrate energy ratio. These findings suggest that eating alone may contribute to reduced brain volume in regions critical for cognitive function and is associated with unhealthy dietary habits. Understanding these associations is crucial for developing targeted interventions that promote social engagement and healthy eating behaviors to prevent cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.