The Surprising Health Benefits of Reading a Book
A new research review reveals what we lose when we give up reading.
The latest research highlights the surprising health benefits of reading books for pleasure. Once a beloved pastime, reading has become less common among Americans over the past few decades, with only 16% of people now reading for enjoyment. This trend is also observed in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, where the percentage of regular readers dropped by 8% in the last decade.
Emeritus professor of clinical neuropsychology Barbara Sahakian and her colleagues have found that early exposure to reading for pleasure can lead to positive outcomes later in life. Children who start reading for enjoyment early on tend to have better cognitive abilities, reduced mental health issues, increased attention, fewer screen-related activities, longer sleep duration, and better academic performance.
For adults, the benefits of reading for pleasure are also noteworthy. Surveys indicate that readers often report feeling less lonely, better connected to others, and more empathetic after engaging with fictional stories. Neuroimaging studies further support this, showing that reading fiction, especially narratives rich in social content, activates brain areas involved in social cognition and understanding perspectives of others.
Reading can also promote stress reduction. Getting engrossed in a book can help shift one's focus away from stressful thoughts and problems, similar to mindfulness practices. The benefits of reading seem to persist across different socio-economic backgrounds and educational levels, making it a valuable tool for improving brain health and overall well-being regardless of one's circumstances.
In older adults, specific studies have shown that even weekly reading can significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline over a 14-year period, without being dependent on educational background. Sahakian emphasizes that the key to reaping these benefits is to read material that aligns with one's interests, whether it's a hobby, a favorite genre, or any subject that sparks curiosity.
Regarding audiobooks, the research is less conclusive. While a study found that students who studied written material performed better on quizzes than those who listened to the same content on a podcast, audiobooks may not offer the same level of immersion. People often listen to audiobooks while multitasking, which may prevent the deep engagement associated with reading physical books or printed text.
Written by urgent.news from Time's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
