Cambridge Study: Reading for Pleasure Benefits Mental Health and Reduces the Risk of Dementia

Researchers at the University of Cambridge, in the United Kingdom, have published an analysis showing that reading for pleasure is linked to better mental health, lower stress levels, and a reduced risk of dementia. Their conclusion is that regular reading brings health benefits at every stage of life, regardless of gender.

The analysis was conducted by Professor Barbara Sahakian and Dr Christelle Langley from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, together with Vicki Perrin, Executive Director of The Queen's Reading Room. The findings were published in the journal Psychological Medicine, after the authors examined dozens of sources of evidence – from surveys and brain scans to other scientific studies.

The idea for this research emerged in 2025, when Sahakian and Langley were writing the book "Brain Boost: Healthy Habits for a Happier Life" and noticed that, although the benefits of reading for pleasure appeared to be wide-ranging, there were surprisingly few studies dedicated to the subject.

"Reading is an excellent way to support our brain health, develop important cognitive skills, and boost our wellbeing. It is something we should encourage from an early age, given the growing body of evidence regarding its benefits – particularly for children – but in fact it is never too late to start, and reading can bring benefits throughout our entire lives and into old age," said Professor Barbara Sahakian.

What research shows about children and young people

The authors note that, according to surveys, the reading habit among children and adolescents has fallen to the lowest levels ever recorded, particularly among teenage boys and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Nevertheless, even those who say they enjoy reading the least acknowledge its educational value – nearly half of them state that reading helps them learn new words or new things.

Some of the most robust evidence comes from a study conducted by Sahakian, Langley, and their colleagues involving more than 10,000 young people. Children who began reading for pleasure from an early age demonstrated better attention, memory, and executive function, higher academic achievement, fewer mental health problems, better sleep, and less time spent in front of screens. These same children also showed a greater ability to concentrate and to solve problems.

The authors recommend encouraging reading from as young an age as possible, regardless of the format – comics, graphic novels, or books inspired by video games and television programmes. Reading is closely linked to progress in literacy, but, according to the study, it also influences mathematical performance, as both activities involve shared cognitive processes: language skills, memory, and executive function.

Benefits for adults: less stress, greater empathy

The benefits identified are not limited to children. In adults, reading has been associated with reduced stress, better relaxation, increased empathy and understanding towards others, and a more tolerant attitude towards differing perspectives.

According to the data cited, reading is considered the most popular method of combating stress: nearly 2 in 5 adults (38%) choose books as their preferred way to unwind. A neuroscience study commissioned by The Queen's Reading Room in 2024 found that just five minutes of reading fiction can reduce stress by up to 20%, boost concentration and problem-solving skills, and alleviate feelings of loneliness. The same survey found that more people turn to books for comfort (35%) than to a glass of wine (31%) or a warm bath (10%).

Significant effects in later life

The study highlights that the benefits of reading may be particularly significant for older people. Activities that stimulate the brain, especially reading, are associated with slower cognitive decline and a lower risk of dementia in older adults.

One example cited is a study conducted on nearly 5,500 adults aged 55 and over, which found that those who read frequently were significantly less likely to develop cognitive impairment over a five-year follow-up period. Another study referenced in the analysis showed that regularly reading newspapers, magazines, and books was associated with a 33% reduction in the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The explanation may lie in the structural changes to the brain observed in readers: greater volumes and more extensive cortical areas in regions involved in language, learning, emotional regulation, and executive control; stronger white matter connectivity involved in language processing; and increased cortical thickness in key language-related areas.

Although most studies show only correlations, evidence of a direct causal link is also emerging. One example is a small-scale study involving 11 children with dyslexia, aged between 7 and 11, in which an eight-week programme focused on mental imagery, articulation, and the tracing of letters and words led to significant improvements in reading skills, accompanied by increases in grey matter volume in key regions of the brain.