The secret to longevity is simple: read books. A study has concluded how reading offers cognitive gains that lead to a longer lifespan. Compared to non-readers, readers live 23 months longer than people who’ve never picked up any material to read. The results were regardless of gender, education, health and wealth.
A 12-Year Study
The study involved a 12-year look into the reading habits of 3,635 participants. The researchers, headed by Yale University professor, Becca R. Levy, then split the group into three:
- People who read over 3.5 hours every week
- People who read fewer than 3.5 hours every week
- Non-readers
The researchers discovered consistently that both types of readers lived longer than those who didn’t read. Those who read books also have a four-month survival advantage at an age when most of their peers had passed away. The participants were over 50 years old.
The study further explains that not every reading material will deliver lifespan benefits. Some will be better than others.
The Reading Material Counts
When you read books, like fictional novels on different genres or biographies and memoirs, you’ll have a significant survival advantage over those who read magazines or periodicals. According to the researchers, book readers will have a longer lifespan than those who read in general.
Why does the material matter?
For starters, reading a historical novel or a sci-fi book demands greater cognitive faculties than leafing through a newspaper or fashion magazine. The researchers noted reading engages two different processes: deep reading and emotional connection.
Deep reading allows you to understand yourself and the world you move in better. It’s a process that also helps reduce stress and boost your survival skills. Emotional connection, on the other hand, enables you to empathise with the characters and what they go through. This process facilitates social connections and a heightening of your emotional intelligence.
Since the material counts with regard to lifespan benefits, do the same benefits apply to the mode of reading: print versus digital?
Reading in the Digital World
There are some changes between reading on an iPad and paperback. Digital may be more engaging for kids, making learning more appealing. Its touchscreen and buttons may also improve a child’s fine-motor skills.
Print, however, may be better for nurturing the love for reading and focuses a kid’s attention better than a digital device. E-books can be distracting with all the features on a device. In addition, people who read on print tend to score higher on comprehension exams. They also recall information much better than those who read on digital devices.
With each mode of reading bringing their unique advantages, both options do enhance a child’s early reading skills. So if you’re a parent deciding whether to get your kid that “Harry Potter” collection or their first Kindle, get both if you can manage. It’ll be worth it for their development and future.
Kids and adults gain substantial benefits when reading books. The practice not only reduces stress, develops empathy, builds vocabulary and strengthens the brain. It also lengthens lifespans.
