The Impact of Reading on Cognitive Decline

Aging and change go hand in hand. Despite worrying about gray hairs or stiffness in the knees that occur during middle age, the real concern people often have is about the potential for cognitive issues like dementia as they grow older.
It is estimated that 6.7 million people have Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. Alzheimer’s and other dementias can rob people of their memories, personalities, and ability to live satisfying, independent lives. While it may not be impossible to prevent all cognitive issues, there is reason to believe that reading could help improve cognition. The American Academy of Neurology says reading stimulates the brain and has been shown to slow down cognitive decline in old age. Reading also may help slow down memory loss.
The power of reading was noticed over 10 years ago when a 2013 research study at Emory University measured readers’ MRI scans as they read books. Researchers found the deeper readers got absorbed in a story, the more areas of their brains were activated, and remained so for several days after finishing their books. The more a person reads, the stronger complex networks in the brain become.
Researchers at the Texas A&M School of Public Health also found in a 2024 study that people with mild cognitive impairment who engage in reading, hobbies, and word games have better memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed than those who do not take part in such activities. And a 2021 study published in Neurology found that high levels of cognitive activity, like reading and writing letters, can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by five years among those age 80 and over.
Reading can keep brains functioning optimally and potentially delay age-related cognitive decline.