Doctor, is it true that

Do books reduce the risk of dementia? Here's why reading pays off throughout life

The National Medical Association's team of doctors and anti-fraud experts answers the most important health questions

23 April 2026

In chiusura la storica libreria Puccini in Corso Buenos Aires (Nicola Marfisi, Milano - 2016-04-07) p.s. la foto e' utilizzabile nel rispetto del contesto in cui e' stata scattata, e senza intento diffamatorio del decoro delle persone rappresentate FOTOGRAMMA

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Is reading a form of prevention against dementia?
Does this concept have a medical as well as a psychological value?
If you have not been a reader since childhood, is it too late to make up for it?

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Does reading really protect the brain from ageing and dementia? The scientific literature shows a solid association between activities such as reading, writing and language study and a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia, but without proving a direct causal relationship. The link between culture and health should accompany the entire life span, and endure well into old age, to generate concrete effects. The topic is relevant for public health: dementia is a risk that affects millions of people worldwide and on which it is also possible to intervene through modifiable factors, including cultural habits. We discuss this on the occasion of World Book Day, which is celebrated on 23 April.

Is it true that reading is healthy for the mind and body?

Common sense suggests that cultivating personal culture is beneficial in many ways, both for mental and physical well-being. The scientific literature is replete with studies investigating the link between activities such as reading and other cultural pastimes with different life stages and related goals, from longevity to interpersonal skills, from success at school and work to surviving adverse events. However, one must distinguish personal interest or passion with educational level. Research on these issues does not only consider the attainment of degrees: what counts is, rather, the willingness and commitment to read books or newspapers or learn a new language, as well as choosing stimulating pastimes such as rebuses and crosswords. We have already explored the association between puzzle games and brain health in this sheet.

These activities should be pursued throughout life, thus going beyond compulsory schooling or the need for professional training. Nurturing cultural interests - and reading is the most immediate and inexpensive way to do this - is one of the best ways to train brain functions and protect them from cognitive decline. Remember that, in old age, a slight deterioration of brain functions is not worrying; instead, it is a pathological state when daily activities and the ability to take care of oneself are affected.

Is reading a form of prevention against dementia?

On the prevention of dementia, of neurodegenerative diseases in general, it is worth following the indications contained in the reports of the specific Lancet Commission. There are systematic reviews and meta-analyses that, over the years, have identified risk factors that predispose to the development of cognitive impairment. Among the 14 factors that can be acted upon to avoid or limit the symptoms of dementia is taking care of one's education. Just as we are careful with our diet to avoid hypertension, diabetes and obesity, or as we limit alcohol and smoking, we should think of our intellectual enrichment as a key element of mental health. Exposing ourselves to stimuli that are beneficial to the brain, such as reading, in fact boosts cognitive reserve.

In psychology, this term refers to the ability to activate responses, to react to challenges such as ageing or illness, but also to social isolation and mood disorders.

It is believed that cognitive reserve can be nurtured from childhood. And it is recommended to continue mental training throughout life. Psychologists and neuroscientists are used to explain this concept with a simple but effective slogan: 'Use it or Lose it', in reference to the brain and its functions. Other forms of creative expression, such as music, dance and the visual arts, also contribute to nurturing the cognitive reserve: we have discussed this in the "Is being creative good for the brain?"

Does this concept have a medical, as well as a psychological, significance?

The topic is stimulating and has led to some curious and varied clinical research projects.

An equally positive stimulus for the brain is, for example, cooking. Recent research conducted in Japan on more than 10,000 participants showed that the risk of dementia in the elderly is reduced by 30 per cent in those who, at least once a week, prepare a meal. Cooking, paying attention to process, creating, is quite different from eating take-away food or pre-cooked frozen food. For older people who engage in it, it is a time that combines physical activity and cognitive stimulation.

However, it is not easy to establish solid connections between the practice of reading and the prevention of progressive and chronic diseases of the brain. In order to measure these habits and link them to the health status of each participant, questionnaires (in which the subject self-reports his or her data) and psychological tests are very often used.

The results of a longitudinal clinical study published in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology were widely reported in the general press. According to the conclusions of the investigation, which took place in the United States over an eight-year period, exposure to cultural stimuli throughout life is correlated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and, in general, with protection against brain ageing. The stimuli considered were reading, writing, language study and library attendance, cultivated on a long-term basis from childhood.

However, it is important to emphasise that the study does not confirm a cause-effect link between the two phenomena; instead, it shows a correlation. The lower incidence of cognitive diseases in older readers was found but is not necessarily a consequence of cognitive enrichment. In fact, other factors that contribute to the brain's well-being, such as general health, economic possibilities of care, social relationships, cannot be neglected.

If you have not been a reader since childhood, is it too late to make up for it?

As also explained in the study we reviewed, reading and other stimulating experiences are a solid basis for healthy elderly brains, especially if cultivated from an early age and with continuity. In a sheet on shared reading between parents and children, we pointed out that the brains of infants and children are particularly lively and responsive to new knowledge. These are physiological mechanisms that lose intensity over time.

However, a very interesting strand of neuroscientific research is examining the benefits of so-called deep reading as a brain training modality. Deep reading is a process that goes beyond the pleasure of pastime and the comprehension of what one is learning: it activates reasoning, deduction, critical thinking, reflection and intuition.

In the reading brain, as the scientist Maryanne Wolf explains in a very engaging way, new connections and organisations are created. By contrast, there is currently no evidence of such effects with digital reading, which may be incompatible with the characteristics of deep reading.

Read the full factsheet on the doctormaeveroche of Fnomceo