Scientias · Science

Reading improves brain health and reduces dementia risk

Reading for pleasure improves mental health, increases empathy, and can lower the risk of dementia, according to research from the University of Cambridge and The Queen’s Reading Room.

Research shows that reading, regardless of genre or method, always offers benefits. Reading together enhances this. "Reading is a great way to keep your brain healthy," says researcher Barbara Sahakian. It is beneficial at any age.

Children and teenagers read less. Starting to read early is associated with better attention, memory, school performance, and fewer mental problems in later life.

Researcher Christelle Langley emphasizes the importance of finding a topic that children are enthusiastic about, such as games or comics, as a stepping stone to reading.

For adults, reading is a popular relaxation technique. Reading five minutes of fiction can reduce stress by 20%. More people seek comfort in books than in alcohol or a warm bath.

Reading in later life slows cognitive decline. Regular readers show significantly less decline after five years. The risk of Alzheimer's can be reduced by 33%.

Brain scans of avid readers show larger brain areas in language, learning, and emotion regulation centers. Reading training in children with dyslexia led to a measurable increase in gray matter.

Reading groups offer social benefits and can be used therapeutically, for example, for the elderly or victims of domestic violence. "Reading groups offer additional benefits thanks to social contact," says Sahakian.

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