Several international studies have examined how regular reading affects people over time, particularly as populations age.
Keeping the brain active
According to a 14-year study from 2020 published in International Psychogeriatrics, adults who frequently engaged in mentally stimulating activities such as reading experienced a slower decline in cognitive abilities.
Another study published in JAMA Neurology the same year showed that people who had read and written throughout their lives experienced slower memory loss, even when there were signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers explain that through reading, the brain becomes better at coping with the changes associated with aging, even though disease processes may still be present.
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Social and mental benefits
According to psychological research, reading plays a role in social and emotional abilities.
Raymond Mar of York University told National Geographic that fiction in particular can strengthen the ability to understand other people’s thoughts and feelings.
This is relevant because loneliness is now considered a serious health risk.
In a European context, where more people live alone and grow older, reading can serve as a low-cost and accessible supplement to other preventive measures.
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A longer life
According to a study published in Social Science & Medicine, people over the age of 50 who regularly read books lived, on average, nearly two years longer than those who did not read.
The study followed more than 3,600 adults over 12 years and accounted for factors such as education, income, and health.
The results from all the studies suggest that reading in itself can contribute positively to a longer life.
Sources: National Geographic, International Psychogeriatrics, JAMA Neurology, and Social Science & Medicine.
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