There Are Actual Health Benefits From Reading
- sarah8648
- 8 hours ago
- 8 min read
Sarah Bersey BSc (Hons) Pg Dip
When I was a young child, you were either a reader or you weren’t. Most of us did read off and on, as TV only had a few channels and there wasn’t any social media or an online world to lose ourselves in. A few weeks into a long school holiday had us reaching for books out of sheer boredom. These days I still know a lot of people that read for pleasure and reap the benefits. However, modern life can rob us of the time to read if we let it, and today’s children have a huge number of ways to entertain themselves that don’t involve books or reading at all. So is this just “progress”, or should we be worried for our own and our children’s health? Only 15% of young males aged 14+ ever read for pleasure. (Shulman et al 2024)
Luckily, wondering if there are measurable benefits of reading has attracted investigators and there ae quite a few meta-analyses (Weziak-Bialowolska 2023). In a widely cited 2016 study published in Social Science & Medicine, researchers from Yale followed 3,635 adults over the age of 50 for 12 years. (Bavshi et al 2016, Ferguson 2025)
They found that participants who read books for 30 minutes or more a day lived an average of 23 months longer than non-readers—even after adjusting for variables like age, gender, education, and health. (Bavshi et al 2016, Ferguson 2025). So that’s the overarching benefit for us all – we are likely to live longer if we read.
But how can we break down the good things that that half hour with a book gives us? Suggestions from studies that looked at brain activity when people are actually reading, the areas stimulated more in readers than non-readers, as well as self-reported perceived benefits seem to indicate that the here are quite a few different types of improvements (Vallie 2024):
Stress Reduction: A 2022 poll conducted by the American Psychological Association found that:
27% of respondents said that most days they felt so stressed they couldn’t function
Stressors included inflation, violence and crime, politics, and racial climate
76% said that the future of the U.S. was a source of stress
Women aged 18-34 reported more stress than older women and men
76% reported that stress affected their physical health
(Vallie 2024)
Reading acts like a gentle meditation, allowing the mind to focus on a single narrative and quiet the constant stream of daily worries. Studies have shown that immersing yourself in a book can lower heart rate, relax muscles, and significantly decrease cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress. This calming effect makes reading a simple, low‑cost tool for managing everyday tension. (Wright 2023, Weziak-Bialowolska 2023) A 2009 study from Mindlab International at the University of Sussex found that reading was able to reduce stress levels by 68%. That made it more effective than other soothing activities like taking a walk or listening to music.(Vallie 2024)
Cognitive Boost & Brain Health: Regular reading stimulates multiple regions of the brain, strengthening neural pathways and preserving gray matter. Long‑term research indicates that people who engage in rea. ding and other mentally stimulating activities experience a slower rate of cognitive decline as they age and are less likely to develop dementia. (Wright 2023, Weziak-Bialowolska 2023) In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated there were 6.7 million adults living with dementia, and they expect that number to rise to 14 million by 2060. (Vallie 2024). By treating the brain like a muscle, reading helps keep mental faculties sharp well into later life so that we don’t just become another dementia statistic.
Empathy and Social Understanding: When you follow characters’ thoughts, feelings, and motivations, you practice putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. This “theory‑of‑mind” exercise improves empathy, compassion, and interpersonal skills. Experts note that readers tend to be better at recognizing emotions in others and navigating social situations, which can enhance relationships across all ages. (Wright 2023, Weziak-Bialowolska 2023)
Vocabulary Expansion and Language Skills: Exposure to new words and sentence structures while reading naturally enriches a person’s vocabulary. A larger lexicon supports clearer communication, better reading comprehension, and even academic success. Research shows that frequent readers develop stronger language abilities, which can positively impact career prospects and everyday interactions. (Wright 2023), Weziak-Bialowolska 2023
Mood Enhancement and Mental Health: According to the US National Institute of Mental Health, in 2022:
Nearly 23% of adults (73 million people) in the U.S. lived with a mental illness
Only 47% of adults with mental illness received mental health services
6% of U.S. adults (15.4 million people) had a mental health condition that severely interfered with everyday life
About 49.5% of U.S. adolescents ages 13-18 lived with mental illness
About 21 million U.S. adults and 4.1 million adolescents ages 12-17 had at least one major depressive episode
19.1% of U.S. adults had an anxiety disorder and 31.9% of adolescents ages 13-18 had an anxiety disorder (Vallie 2024)
Beyond stress relief, reading can lift mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Bibliotherapy—using books as a therapeutic aid—has been shown to provide emotional release, improve self‑esteem, and foster a sense of wellbeing. Regular readers often report higher levels of happiness and lower rates of mental‑health challenges. (Wright 2023, Weziak-Bialowolska 2023)
Improved Sleep Quality: Reading before bedtime helps signal the brain that it’s time to wind down, lowering cognitive arousal and preparing the body for rest. Surveys indicate that a sizable portion of people notice better sleep duration and quality when they incorporate a nightly reading habit, making it a natural alternative to screen‑time‑induced insomnia. (Wright 2023, Weziak-Bialowolska 2023)
Overall Longevity and Physical Health: As already mentioned, the mental stimulation from reading has been linked to broader health benefits, including lower blood pressure and a modest increase in lifespan. By keeping the mind active and reducing stress, reading contributes to both mental and physical resilience, supporting a healthier, longer life. (Wright 2023, Weziak-Bialowolska 2023)
“Large studies have found that people who read more often may have a lower risk of memory loss or cognitive decline as they age. This is because reading can help develop cognitive reserve, a mental “buffer” that allows the brain to better compensate for aging or injury. Cognitive reserve helps your brain function at a higher level, even if you experience age-related changes in brain health.” (Graff-Radford 2020)
Interestingly, the life-extending benefits of reading weren’t found to be as strong in those who only read newspapers or magazines. Books seemed to offer something uniquely protective. (Ferguson 2025)
There is a strong, positive relationship between childhood literacy and physical and mental health outcomes in adulthood (Shulman et al 2024).
Research shows that access to books results in higher brain cognition and better physical health in adulthood (Shulman et al 2024). Children from homes that encourage literacy are more likely to achieve future academic success, as those with more books at home achieve, on average, three years more schooling, regardless of their parents’ education, occupation, and economic status (Shulman et al 2024).
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has addressed the importance of literacy, recommending that early literacy development is started in infancy and that families are approached and alerted about early childhood education options. (High et al 2014). The AAP advises that physicians discuss specific strategies with parents and caregivers, including encouraging reading aloud with young children, discussing shared-reading activities, and providing developmentally appropriate books at health supervision visits for all “high-risk” low-income young children. However, there are no existing guidelines for pediatricians to assess literacy or to consider literacy-rich environments as an indicator for children's physical or mental health (High et al 2014).
Early literacy intervention has benefits right from the beginning of a child’s life:
The AAP recommends that communities, schools, and organizations are supported to work to engage the following stakeholders:
The AAP recommends that communities, schools, and organizations are supported to work to engage the following stakeholders:
Healthcare Providers: Advocating for and providing additional training and resources for pediatric medical professionals around child-literacy assessment, promotion, and intervention throughout childhood; integrating literacy as a measure of a child's health.
Educators: Incorporating health centers in education settings when possible; providing professional development and age-appropriate content for early childhood and elementary educators to engage students in issues relating to health and literacy; and communicating with practitioners and families about health issues affecting students. Educators should continue to work with families and communities to provide a wide variety of books to foster positive reading habits in and out of school.
Families: Educating parents and caregivers about the impact of early literacy and empowering families to create a literacy-rich home environment; providing families with the resources necessary to improve their mental and physical health.
Communities: Increasing public messaging around the clear, lifelong link between literacy and health, ensuring that communities prioritize reading and books in discussions around public health issues.
(Shulman et al 2024)
So it’s clear that reading and book awareness begins early and is encouraged throughout life. However, if reading as a regular activity has fallen by the wayside, how to get back into it?
Sian Ferguson, in her article for verywellmind.com (https://www.verywellmind.com/can-reading-extend-your-life-11802660#:) suggests some ways to begin revisit reading, or indeed start reading regularly for the first time in your life:
Set a simple goal: A few minutes a day is enough to build the habit. 10–20 minutes a day is a great starting point. Use a timer or app if needed.
Try habit-stacking: Read while you drink your morning coffee or on your commute. Personally, I love reading at bedtime to wind down.
Always keep a book with you. This can help you sneak in a few pages while you wait in lines, eat your lunch, or take a break during your workday.
Make it social. Join a book club (virtual or in-person) for accountability and connection. Apps like Goodreads or Storygraph can also inspire you to read more.
Take advantage of your local library. It’s the cheapest and most convenient way to read widely.
Be consistent. As with all habits, consistency is key. “Small, regular doses of engagement add up over time to support brain health.”
Don’t stress too much about finding the “right” books to read. “There is no clear evidence on which types of reading best support brain health, so people should simply read what they enjoy,” (Graff-Radford et al 2020) suggests.
The best book is the one you’ll actually read. Online reading blogs, reading groups on social media such as TikTok could give you some ideas of what other people are reading. Even a trip to the library could allow you to pick up something you actually think you’ll like – for free, so it doesn’t have to cost you anything.
And remember, to get all of those benefits, expect to have to be a little bit patient:
“The benefits of reading books include a longer life in which to read them”
Bavshi et al 2016
Useful References
Bavishi A, Slade MD, Levy BR. A chapter a day – association of book reading with longevity. Social science & medicine. 2016;164:44.
Ferguson, H. (2025) Can Reading Extend Your Life? Here’s What Science Says
Graff-Radford, J. Lunde, A.M. (2020) Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias Mayo Clinic Press ISBN-10 : 1893005615 ISBN-13 : 978-1893005617
High, P.C., Klass P., Donoghue E., Glassy D., DelConte B., et al. (2014) Literacy promotion: an essential component of primary care pediatric practice. Pediatrics. 134(2):404–9
Shulman, K. Baiker, K. Mayes, L. (2024) Reading for life-long health Frontiers In Pediatrics 12:1401739 [online] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11303134/
Vallie, S. (2024) Health benefits Of Reading Books [online] https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-reading-books
Weziak-Bialowolska D, Bialowolski P, Sacco PL.(2023) Mind-stimulating leisure activities: Prospective associations with health, wellbeing, and longevity. Front Public Health 11:1117822. [online] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1117822/full
Wright, M. (2023) Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Reading Books [online] https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/physical-and-mental-health-benefits-of-reading-books
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
