Book Lovers Enjoy More Than Just a Good Story: The Health Benefits of Reading for Older Adults

October 1, 2024

What if there was a miracle drug that could help reduce stress, enhance memory, improve sleep, provide community, and supply information and entertainment all the while? And what if it wasn’t a drug at all?

Everyone, especially older people, can enjoy the incredible benefits of reading. Reading is more than a leisurely activity. For book lovers and news hounds alike, AMBA is here to reveal how reading can positively impact health and well-being.

The Many Benefits of Reading for Older Adults

Muscle Up Your Memory

Want to be a true muscle-head? Research proves that reading strengthens your brain. Studies have proven that people who engage in mentally stimulating activities such as reading have slower rates of memory decline than those who do not.

Reading exercises your memory, which is critical to the short-term recall of everyday events. Regular mental workouts such as reading can strengthen the brain’s neural network, helping your mind become more receptive to learning and memory retention.

Data shows that engaging in frequent cognitive activity later in life can reduce the rate of decline by 32%.

Getting Lost in A Book Can Help You Find Peace of Mind

The mental benefits of reading can improve your quality of life. Research shows that reading beats listening to music, having tea, or going for a walk. Studies found that once participants dove into a book, their heart rate and muscle tension relaxed in a mere six minutes.

Frequent readers are also less prone to anxiety and acting impulsively. Reading improves analytic skills, making readers more likely to think before reacting and better equipped to process information, prepare for life’s uncertainties, and reduce their anxiety.

Want to Count Sheep? Read a Book.

Creating and maintaining a bedtime ritual, such as reading, signals the body that it’s time for sleep. For the body’s sleep cycle, reading is healthier and more effective than falling asleep watching TV or taking out the phone and reading social media posts. In fact, the blue screens of these devices are proven to disrupt sleep cycles and keep people awake longer.

Reading Can Protect Against Dementia and Depression

One of the most promising benefits of reading for older adults is that it can help preserve brain structures important to cognition later in life and reduce the speed of cognitive decline.

Research suggests that adults in their 70s who engaged in mentally intense hobbies, such as reading, from ages 20-60 build a reserve of neuronal connections and are less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Reading Can Be a Great Way to Stay Social!

Joining a book club is a great way to boost your reading habits, meet new friends, and enjoy social discussions. Book clubs can offer stimulating conversations where you and others can share insights, socialize, and have fun together.

If you’re not already a book lover, don’t fret! There are many ways to get inspired to pick up a book:

• Audiobooks—If reading from a book isn’t your thing, try audiobooks. They’re a great option because you can listen in the car, at home, or on a walk!
• Large–print books. Many publishers now offer large-print books, typically printed in 16- to 18-point font (compared to regular print, which is between 10 and 12 points).
• E–readers—E-readers, such as Kindles or Nooks, are lightweight electronic alternatives to printed books. The advantages of E-readers include choosing the font most comfortable for you, adjusting its size, and storing a large quantity of books on your device. E-readers can also access magazines, newspapers, and other publications.

Whether it’s history, sports, gardening, romance, or all of the above, you can find a book that interests you. Given the proven health benefits of reading, even adding a small daily dose to your routine could be just what the doctor ordered!

 

Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6245064/

https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/wnl.0b013e31829c5e8a

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/5070874/Reading-can-help-reduce-stress.html

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