A love of reading can protect your brain from
Alzheimer’s disease, slash stress levels, encourage positive thinking, and
fortify friendships. Here's how your brain and body benefit when you crack open
a book.
Reading gives muscle to your memory.
Reading gives your brain a
different kind of workout than watching TV or listening to the radio. Whether
you’re absorbed in a page-turner or simply scanning an instruction manual for
your coffee maker, “parts of the brain that have evolved for other
functions—such as vision, language, and associative learning—connect in a
specific neural circuit for reading, which is very challenging," Ken Pugh,
PhD, president and director of research of Haskins Laboratories, told Oprah magazine. The habit spurs your brain to think and
concentrate.
Reading gives your workout more staying power.
Like the latest single from
Lady Gaga or Real Housewives episode,
books are also good company during a workout. A suck-you-in plot may keep you
on an exercise machine longer to finish a captivating chapter, according to Weight Watchers magazine. Michele Olson,
PhD, professor of exercise physiology at Auburn University, told the magazine
that in order to avoid neck or shoulder pain, readers should use the machine’s
book ledge and try not to round their shoulders while working out.
Reading keeps your brain young.
Digging into a good book can
literally take years off your mind, according to a recent study from Rush
University Medical Center as reported by Prevention. Adults who
spent their downtime doing creative or intellectual activities (like reading)
had a 32 percent slower rate of cognitive decline later in life than those who
did not. “Brainy pursuits make the brain more efficient by changing its
structure to continue functioning properly in spite of age-related
neuropathologies,” Robert S. Wilson, PhD, professor of neuropsychology at Rush
University Medical Center, told the magazine. Another recent study found that
older adults who regularly read or play mentally challenging games like chess
or puzzles are two and a half times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease,
reported ABC News.
Reading can melt away stress.
Snuggling up with a good
read tamps down levels of unhealthy stress hormones such as cortisol, Weight Watchers recently reported. In a British study,
participants engaged in an anxiety-provoking activity and then either read for
a few minutes, listened to music, or played video games. The stress levels of
those who read dropped 67 percent, which was a more significant dip than that
of the other groups.
Reading boosts your vocabulary.
Even if it’s been decades
since you had to worry about the SATs, you can still use books to expand your
mental dictionary. In fact, researchers estimate that we learn five to 15
percent of all the words we know through reading, according to a Scholastic report. This is
particularly important for children, whose vocabulary size is directly and
dramatically related to the books they read.
Reading improves empathy.
Stories provide life-changing perspective, say York
University researchers. Getting wrapped up in the lives of characters
strengthens your ability to understand others’ feelings. Seeing the world
through the eyes of Jane Eyre, for example, may make it easier for you to
relate to your sister-in-law’s viewpoint.
Reading can encourage life goals.
Reading about someone who overcame obstacles may motivate
you to meet your own goals, Ohio State University researchers found. If you’d
like a raise, following a character into the boss’s office may give you the
courage to make the same request. The more you identify with a character and
experience the events as if they were happening to you, the more likely you’ll
be to take action.
Reading helps you feel more connected.
When you identify with
characters in a book, you experience a kind of real-life relationship that can
enhance your sense of inclusion, say psychologists at the University of
Buffalo. In other words, reading Marley & Me may
increase camaraderie with dog owners in the park.
Reading can brighten your day.
A happy ending can lift your spirits, but novels may drum
up positive feelings in more subtle ways too. Even minor events in the
narrative may unearth warm memories. Does the lead character attend a beach
barbecue? You’ll likely reminisce about a sand-and-surf party you attended.
Reading can help you save cash.
The average novel costs
between $8 (e-book) and $13 (paperback) and takes about six hours to read,
reported Weight Watchers. Compare that to going to see a few
movies, spending a day at an amusement park, or eating a few meals out—reading
is a much more cost-effective splurge for your entertainment dollars. And don't
forget your local library.
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