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Start a Good Book

Reading is a pleasure — and it may help support brain health

By

Staying Sharp

Updated April 21, 2023

Updated April 21, 2023

An open book on a table in a library

Pornsawan Sangmanee / EyeEm/Getty Images

Quick Win

Decide what you’re in the mood for — a mystery? historical fiction? a memoir or biography? — and settle in for a read.

Try This Today

Survey friends for their favorite books or look for recommendations online, and then go to a library or bookstore. Can’t decide? Try the first-paragraph test: Scan the opening lines and see if they grab you.
Choose your book nook — a comfortable spot in your home with good lighting. Spend a half hour getting lost in the story.
On repeat. Pick a daily time to devote to reading. First thing in the morning, with coffee? After dinner but before you get sleepy? Start a list of titles you’d like to check out.

Why

Relaxation can come in many forms, one of which is curling up with a good book! And research suggests the benefits of reading may go beyond R&R. Some studies suggest that reading fiction can expand perspective and increase empathy, including a 2018 review of 14 studies published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Reading might even protect brain health, according to a 14-year study of close to 2,000 people age 64 and older in Taiwan. That report, published in International Psychogeriatrics in 2020, linked more frequent reading with a lower risk of cognitive decline.

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Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

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