Want to live longer? Read a book. That’s the contention of Yale University researchers in a study of 3,635 people published in the September 2016 issue of Social Science & Medicine. They concluded that as little as 30 minutes of book reading a day will extend your life, and that, on average, book readers were found to live more than two years longer than non-readers.
The research found that those who read books for more than 3.5 hours a week were 23% less likely to die, while those who read for up to 3.5 hours a week were 17% less likely to die.
Apparently, reading could save your life:
The researchers said that reading books “can promote empathy, social perception, and emotional intelligence, which are cognitive processes that can lead to greater survival.”
People over 65 spend an average of 4.4 hours a day watching television, the researchers said. They suggested that spending some of that time reading “could prove to be beneficial in terms of survival.”
The study found a similar survival association among people who read newspapers and periodicals, but it was weaker -- suggesting that books really are the best.
Could the stimulation of the cognitive process delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's? I believe any stimulation of the thought process could help.
anon997019
I'm no longer ashamed of reading simply for pleasure.
anon997018
Aha! I have attained the age of 80 and was puzzled because my younger brother and sister died five and eight years ago. Neither of them read.
I remember Will and Ariel Durant wrote books and had similar longevity. They even commented on their puzzlement.
Discussion Comments
Could the stimulation of the cognitive process delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's? I believe any stimulation of the thought process could help.
I'm no longer ashamed of reading simply for pleasure.
Aha! I have attained the age of 80 and was puzzled because my younger brother and sister died five and eight years ago. Neither of them read.
I remember Will and Ariel Durant wrote books and had similar longevity. They even commented on their puzzlement.
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