Researchers at the University of Cambridge brought together dozens of studies on the effects of reading and published their conclusions in the journal Psychological Medicine. The message is simple: reading for pleasure is good for the brain.
In one of the studies cited, older people who took part in stimulating activities such as reading had a 33% lower risk of Alzheimer’s. In another, involving more than 10,000 adolescents, those who started reading for pleasure early had fewer mental health problems, less stress and fewer symptoms of depression. Readers also say they better understand other people’s feelings.
The authors point out that these studies show associations and do not, on their own, prove that reading causes the benefits. But they are one more good reason to pick up a book.
