Scientists have learned about the impact of reading habits on life expectancy

Regular reading can be much more useful than it seems at first glance. More and more studies show that it is associated with lower stress levels, better memory, protection from cognitive decline, and even a longer life. This was reported by National Geographic magazine on January 16.

"When you immerse yourself in a book, you often enter a trance state similar to meditation, and this state protects you," said Los Angeles psychotherapist Zoey Shaw, who studies the relationship between reading and longevity.

The key proof was the extensive work of the Yale School of Public Health. Scientists followed 3,635 adults over the age of 50 for 12 years and found that the study participants who regularly read lived an average of 23 months longer than those who did not read at all. This effect persisted even after taking into account the level of education, income, health, and cognitive abilities.

Researcher Elizabeth Stein-Morrow from the University of Illinois emphasized that the socio-emotional effects of reading play an important role. This point of view is shared by psychologist Raymond Mar from York University, who called social connections crucial for healthy aging. According to him, literature replaces social experience, because while reading, a person mentally "trains" emotions, relationships and the ability to see the world through the eyes of others.

According to the publication, the habit of reading also helps to reduce stress levels. According to Mara, in the process of reading, people immerse themselves in a concentrated and at the same time contemplative state. Reading also reduces loneliness, a risk factor for early death comparable to smoking or obesity. Books give a sense of company without pressure and intimacy without vulnerability.

The benefits of reading are said to be particularly noticeable for the brain. Long-term studies have shown that people who regularly engage in mentally stimulating activities, including reading, lose cognitive function much more slowly. Even in people with signs of Alzheimer's disease, reading habits are associated with slower memory loss. Experts emphasize that reading does not stop the biological processes of dementia, but it helps the brain to better cope with damage.

The puzzle has formed: how to keep a phenomenal memory until old age

Doctors have told us which exercises help reduce the risk of dementia.

"Reading simultaneously engages several areas of the brain — speech, responsible for attention, memory and imagination — which over time strengthens the cognitive reserve," said Zoey Shaw.

An early experiment in 2022 showed that older adults who read fiction books for eight weeks improved both their working and long-term memory more than those who solved word puzzles. Neuroscience studies have also found that reading novels enhances communication between areas of the brain responsible for language and sensory processing.

In addition, reading fiction is associated with a higher level of empathy. Mar emphasized that stories put people in the place of characters with different experiences and identities. According to him, this trains the ability to understand others in real life.

Neuroscience confirms that the brain processes stories almost the same way, regardless of whether they are read or listened to, because with the second perception option, a person still creates mental models of characters and the world. Shaw, in turn, drew attention to the advantage of audiobooks, such as the ease of combining with walking or physical activity — this enhances the overall wellness effect.

According to experts, 10-30 minutes a day is enough to benefit. Experts say that the best advice is to just start reading. They also emphasize the importance of choosing books that are really interesting, rather than those that "should" be read.

Scientific American magazine on September 26 last year reported on the impact of book annotation on human memory. It was noted that this practice is an important part of deep reading. According to the publication, the writing process itself helps a person to better remember and understand the read and highlighted fragments.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.