10/21/2026
Why Reading for Pleasure Is So Vital for the Brain
MedScape - October 15, 2026
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/why-reading-pleasure-so-vital-brain-2026a10012r9?ecd=WNL_trdalrt_pos1_261017_etid8806974&uac=445044EN&impID=8806974
Scientists have long recognized that getting lost in a page-turner can reap cognitive benefits far beyond the thrill of the chapter. Now, a growing body of research is bringing them closer to understanding why, as shown by a new review in Psychological Medicine. 📚
In children and teens, reading is linked to improved attention, executive function, and mental health. In adults, it helps lower stress and loneliness and increase empathy and cognitive function. Reading for pleasure, the authors said, is “an accessible and low-cost protective factor across the lifespan” that can serve as a scalable intervention. 📕📗
Early reading can promote brain health while lowering the risk for teenage mental health problems, Sahakian (professor of clinical neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England) noted. Later in life, it helps guard against cognitive decline and dementia. One study cited in the review even found that a brief 6-minute reading session can reduce stress levels by 68%. 📙📘
Reading, for the brain, is akin to exercise for the body, Sahakian said. A critical neural circuit involved in learning and memory relies on the hippocampus — one of the first regions to suffer damage from Alzheimer’s disease. Keeping the brain actively engaged can help preserve the circuit’s function for longer. 📖
What books are you reading now? Which ones have remained in your 'favorites of all time'?
I (Veda) just finished reading Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult. She is one of my favorite authors - I've read every book she's ever written and have never been disappointed. I am now waiting for Barbara Kingsolver's newly released book, Partita, to become available at my local library. She's another of my favorites! 💜
