The benefits of reading books may include a longer life. Regardless of other factors like race, education, state of health, wealth, marital status, and depression, a research of Yale University found that people who read books regularly had a 20% lower risk of dying over the next 12 years compared with people who weren’t readers or who read periodicals [1].
As a brain challenging activity, reading also contributes to the delay of onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia [2].
Towards keeping our minds active, especially as we age, reading is very rewarding. Think of reading to your grandchildren, and teaching them how to read– what an inspiring and fun thought! Here are other reasons why you should keep reading as a hobby [2] [3]:
- It enhances your memory, keeping you sharp, alert and receptive to learning and hence, helping with memory retention.
- It puts you to better sleep compared to watching TV and using other electronic devices which will make you more awake.
- It reduces stress. Getting absorbed in stories is a great way to relax. It in fact loosens muscle tension and lowers heart rate.
- It sharpens your decision making. Reading books, especially those with good plots and mysteries, are helpful in improving reasoning and in problem solving.
- It decreases feelings of loneliness as books can entertain and keep you company.
For mood-boosting reading for older adults, here are recommended titles [2]:
- Winter Birds – by Jamie Langston Turner
- Midwinter Break – by Bernard MacLaverty
- You’re Only Old Once – by Dr. Seuss
- All The Light We Cannot See – by Anthony Doerr
- This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection – by Carol Burnett
- Chicken Soup For The Soul: Older and Wiser: Stories of Inspiration, Humor and Wisdom About Life At A Certain Age – by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
Books that feature older adults as protagonists might also interest you so here’s a helpful list [3]:
- The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
- And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
- Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
- The Notebook
- This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance!
References:
- Harvard Medical School, “Reading books may add years to your life”. October 17, 2016, Harvard Health Publishing. Accessed October 18, 2022. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging/reading-books-may-add-years-to-your-life
- Kim Miller, “Benefits Of Reading For Seniors”. January 26, 2018, Senior Lifestyle mag.com. Accessed October 18, 2022. https://seniorslifestylemag.com/health-well-being/benefits-of-reading-for-seniors/
- Markham Public Library, “Benefits of Reading for Older Adults”. October 1, 2022, MPL. Accessed October 18, 2022. https://markhampubliclibrary.ca/blogs/post/benefits-of-reading-for-older-adults/