Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Moscow, Jan. 30 – Habitual reading not only enriches our culture but also benefits our brain health and prolongs life, according to recent scientific evidence published by National Geographic.
A Yale University study, which followed over 3,600 adults over the age of 50 for 12 years, revealed that those who read regularly lived an average of 23 months longer than those who did not. This result held even after controlling for factors such as education, income, or health status.
According to experts, part of this effect is due to the social and emotional connections generated by reading, especially fiction, which allows for the mental practice of relationships and emotions even in solitude. Likewise, this hobby induces a mental state similar to meditation, reducing stress—a factor that accelerates aging.
The benefits of reading go beyond extending life, as it has been observed to protect the brain from cognitive decline. Research has linked stimulating activities, such as reading, with slower rates of mental decline and reduced impact of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
According to specialists, reading can stimulate multiple areas of the brain, such as language, attention, memory, and imagination, thereby strengthening cognitive reserve over time, which allows the brain to compensate for age-related damage. It has also been discovered that reading improves working memory and, in the long term, processing speed and the ability to recognize emotions based on empathy.
Experts recommend making reading a regular habit, even if it's just 10 to 30 minutes a day, and choosing books that genuinely interest you to gain the greatest benefits for physical and mental health. Audiobooksalsoprovide similar benefits. (Text and photo: RT)
