According to the Pew Research Center, about 68% of seniors ages 65 and up read a book in any format over 12 months. This number declines with age, even though people can continue experiencing the benefits of reading at any stage in life.
Reading can help you relax, promote lifelong learning, and offer cognitive stimulation. It could improve your mood and help you empathize with friends and their unique experiences.
On the fence about picking up a book? Read on to learn more about the effects of reading on senior brain health!
Cognitive Stimulation
According to the Monongahela Valley Independent Elders Survey (MoVIES) project, reading for one or more hours a day could be protective against dementia. By 2050, about 100 million people worldwide may suffer from this condition. Reading can give your brain a workout, offering cognitive stimulation.
As you read, your imagination will build the story’s detailed imagery in your mind’s eye. This will strengthen your brain’s neural networks.
Keeping your brain active can improve your memory retention. As a mental exercise, it could help prevent memory loss and dementia.
If you’re concerned about Alzheimer’s and dementia, talk to the professionals at your local senior living community. Here are a few more ways ongoing cognitive stimulation can benefit your brain health.
Improved Senior Brain Health
Reading keeps your mind working, allowing you to sharpen your analytical thinking skills. Developing problem-solving skills could help delay the onset of dementia.
As you read, your brain will process new information and store the knowledge you’ve gained. This exercise helps the brain strengthen existing or develop new neural pathways, promoting better senior brain health.
Reading could help:
- Improve language skills
- Increase information processing speeds
- Enhance memory
Developing your analytical thinking skills can help you navigate new challenges as a senior. This could help reduce stress levels during complex situations.
Better Focus and Concentration
The best books can pull you into a new world. Reading will require you to focus and use your imagination, which can lead to better concentration. At the same time, you’ll stimulate brainwave activity, potentially improving your memory.
Lifelong Learning
Reading is an effective way of learning about new experiences, developing new skills, or gathering information. Reading widely will help you expand your mind and knowledge base.
You may read about a skill you want to develop or a hobby you want to try. Consider exploring your senior living community’s activities calendar. You can enjoy:
- Exercising
- Dancing
- Knitting or crocheting
- Quilting
- Scrapbooking
- Video games
- Hiking
- Cooking
- Playing music
If you want to keep your mind sharp, explore continuing education classes. Learning alongside other seniors creates opportunities for socializing. You’ll continue building new neural pathways, keeping your mind sharp.
Stress Relief
Learning how to combat stress can improve your mood and quality of life. Reading can help you take a break from stressors and unwind. In fact, a good book is as effective as yoga and humor in:
- Reducing subjective feelings of stress
- Lowering heart rate
- Reducing diastolic blood pressure
- Improving systolic blood pressure
Reducing stress levels can benefit your mental and physical well-being. Here are a few ways reading offers stress relief.
Discover Relaxation Techniques
Reading can help you discover new relaxation techniques. These may include:
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Deep breathing exercises
- Pilates
Remember, one of the benefits of reading is it allows you to continue learning. Discovering these techniques can offer additional stress relief, improving your health and quality of life.
Increased Empathy
Reading books, especially fiction novels, can improve your emotional intelligence and empathy. Books can expose you to new ideas, beliefs, and situations.
Reading fiction encourages you to imagine the world through someone else’s eyes. You’ll appreciate their unique perspectives after having a lifetime of hands-on experience in the world. This will improve your mind’s tendency to empathize with people, which could help you connect with others.
Socialization
Explore your senior living community’s activities calendar and join a book club. Reading books can offer new ways for you to connect with other seniors. Socializing can improve your mood and quality of life.
Physical Health Benefits
The stress relief benefits of reading can improve your overall physical health. According to researchers at the University of Sussex, participants who read for even six minutes experience reduced muscle tension and a slower heart rate. Without relaxation techniques like reading, stress can cause:
- Weakened immunity
- Increased risk of depression
- Headaches
- Heartburn
- Tense muscles
- Stomachaches and nausea
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar (increasing the risk of diabetes)
- Pounding heart
- Increased risk of heart attack or stroke
- Rapid breathing
- Anxiety
- Irritability
Here are a few physical health benefits of reading.
Better Sleep
Some seniors struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep as they age. Reading can help you relax before bed. Making it part of your bedtime routine leads the brain to signal to the body that it’s time to sleep.
Try to prioritize physical book copies over e-readers before bed. Using devices right before bed could keep you awake longer.
Getting enough sleep each night will give you the energy to take on a new day. It will improve your mood, reduce stress, and lower your risk of senior health conditions.
Increased Longevity
According to a paper published in Social Science & Medicine, book readers experience a 20% reduction in risk of mortality over 12 years compared to non-readers. These findings indicate that reading books may help increase longevity.
Reading can improve your happiness and satisfaction with life. The next time you’re bored or unhappy, crack open a book!
Enjoy the Benefits of Reading Today
To recap, what are the benefits of reading for seniors? Reading books can improve your quality of life and mental and physical health, and promote lifelong learning. Explore your local library or bookstore to discover your new favorite book!
Remember, reading can promote socialization. Consider joining us at Spring Mill Senior Living.
We offer everything seniors need to live happy, fulfilled lives. Our program is a nationally recognized scientific approach designed to improve the quality of life for seniors. Schedule a tour to discover our exclusive lifestyle programs in Phoenixville, PA!
