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Reading for pleasure can improve health and wellbeing at any age and regardless of what you read, University of Cambridge academics have said
Prof Barbara Sahakian and Dr Christelle Langley, from the university’s department of psychiatry, argued that reading boosts mental health and academic performance, leading to greater empathy and lowering the risk of dementia
Their review, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, found reading at any age improves brain and mental health, enhances cognitive performance and reduces the risk of mental decline
Sahakian added that “it’s never too late to start” reading, as “it can bring benefits throughout our lives and into old age”
Langley said: “Given how beneficial reading for pleasure is at a young age, we should be doing everything we can to introduce children and young people to reading
“The important thing is to find something they’d really enjoy reading about – it might be a TV programme or a game – and use this as a way in.”
The Cambridge scientists worked with The Queen’s Reading Room – the charity founded by Queen Camilla to highlight the benefits of reading – as part of the National Year of Reading
As part of the review, one study involving more than 10,000 young people found that children who begin reading for pleasure early in life have a better attention span, memory and problem-solving skills
The researchers said those children tend to perform better at school, have fewer mental health problems, and lead healthier lifestyles – including more sleep and less screen time
Sahakian said book clubs or reading groups also “provide additional benefits through social interaction”
“They can help people feel less isolated and more connected to others, which has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia,” she added
The review also found adults aged 55 and older who were engaged in activities such as reading were significantly less likely to develop cognitive impairment
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