Love to Read? Your Book Habit May Lower Alzheimer’s Risk by 33%

Research shows that reading has many benefits for people of all ages. Goodboy Picture Company · E+/Getty Research shows that reading for pleasure has various benefits for people of all ages. Reading has been linked to better cognitive skills and mental well-being, as well as lower levels of stress and loneliness. For children, reading for pleasure is associated with better attention, memory, academic achievement, and mental health. In older adults, regular reading is associated with slower cognitive decline and a lower risk of dementia. Whether it’s a novel, a magazine, or a graphic novel, reading for pleasure can benefit people of all ages, according to a review published in Psychological Medicine on September 15. Regular reading has been linked to better thinking skills, mental well-being, and a lower risk of cognitive decline. From childhood through older adulthood, this accessible activity may help build cognitive reserve and support brain health. Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, who wasn’t involved in the review, told Healthline, “Reading builds empathy, improves focus, and offer…

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