Study: Reading Books 30 Minutes a Day Linked to Longer Life
A Yale study of 3,635 adults found daily book readers lived 23 months longer on average, even after adjusting for health factors.
Several studies show that regular reading is associated with mental and cognitive health benefits, and even longer life. A 2016 Yale study that followed 3,635 adults in their 50s for 12 years found participants who read books for at least 30 minutes a day lived an average of 23 months longer than those who did not read. The effect remained after researchers accounted for age, sex, education and health conditions. Neurolog Jonatham Graff-Radford said the habit of reading is also linked to a lower risk of memory decline. Kathleen Jordan of Midi Health said mentally stimulating activities, including reading, help keep the brain active and reduce stress.