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Reading is useful: scientists have presented strong evidence

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
Published: 2016-10-21 09:00

Scientists from the oldest American university, Yale, have determined how a person can maintain clarity of thought and mind until old age. The secret is simple: it is necessary to constantly give the brain a mental load. And the most effective option for such a load is reading books - specifically, regular "printed" publications, and not electronic versions from a computer or tablet screen.

Unfortunately, in recent years people have found less and less time to read books. Of course, it is much easier to spend time in front of the TV or laptop, watching new movies or playing computer games. However, those who still find time to read have many advantages over those who do not.

Thus, scientists have voiced several reasons why reading is useful:

  1. Reading prevents and relieves stress, calms the nervous system, relaxes (especially if you read light literature "before going to bed"). Thanks to this effect, people who read can reduce their risk of strokes, as well as heart and vascular diseases. Moreover, not only the text itself is calming, but also other factors: the rustling of pages, the smell of printing ink, etc.
  2. Reading has a beneficial effect on the processes of memorization, logic and thinking. Thanks to books, we learn to reason, draw conclusions, imagine and remember. Reading books is exciting - often a person puts himself in the place of book characters, or thinks up the plot in his own way.
  3. Reading speeds up the process of falling asleep and improves the depth of sleep. If you regularly read books at night, you can not only get rid of insomnia, but also be more energetic and fresh in the morning.
  4. Reading develops a person socially: it trains written and spoken literacy, and teaches one to clearly formulate one’s conclusions.
  5. Reading helps you increase your vocabulary, which gives you confidence in communication and even increases your self-esteem.

In addition, scientists have proven that the human body ages as its brain ages. If you constantly stimulate brain activity, you can delay the onset of old age. Undoubtedly, reading quality educational literature will help normalize brain function. After long and extensive research, experts have determined that in order to prolong youth and prevent the risk of premature death, it will be enough to read just three and a half hours a week. Not much, right? If you stick to this “regime,” you can prolong your life by no more and no less than 12 years.

People who read are always more creative and imaginative than those who stubbornly ignore reading books. In life, this contributes to the creation of a successful career and, as a result, to the achievement of stable financial well-being.

Before you start “book therapy”, you need to remember just a few important rules:

  • the book should be selected according to the genre that is close to the reader (so to speak, “to the liking”);
  • You need to read “for pleasure”, and not under duress.

It has been proven that in the cases listed, reading books will bring invaluable benefits.

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