How a Good Book Can Keep You Healthy – Morning Sign Out at UCI

Written by Valerie Nguyen and Edited by Olivia Cooper

For college students, procrastination may be at its peak due to the seemingly endless options of binge-worthy material available online. Unfortunately, what seems like a harmless activity to occupy the mind has a potential consequence—cognitive decline. After comparing data from the 2019 English Longitudinal Study of Aging about participants’ television watching habits to several tests on their cognition, researchers linked individuals who watched television consistently for at least 3.5 hours a day with a greater degree of memory loss over a six-year timeline [1]. As a healthier alternative, reading, which is often associated with a thick textbook rather than as a leisurely activity, holds a host of benefits for those who opt for it.

While often a less preferred activity, especially among college students, reading has been correlated with brain development and improvement of overall function. For example, in one 2013 research study at Emory University, participants were tasked with reading a novel, and then their brain imagery was studied to analyze immediate and prolonged effects of this pastime [2]. Surprisingly, they found that activity initially increased in areas of the brain that are responsible for empathy and comprehension during reading, but more extended changes continued in another area of the brain responsible for processing sensory information [2]. In other words, the effects of enjoying a book can possibly last longer than during the time period in which an individual is actively reading.

On a similar note, another study published in Neurology sought to better understand the link between mentally stimulating activities and the slowing of cognitive decline [3]. Researchers questioned elderly subjects about their participation in stimulating cognitive activities throughout their lifetimes, and they also tested their memory and critical thinking skills. After about 6 years, 294 of the participants had passed away; after their deaths, researchers were able to observe the participants’ brains for typical manifestations of dementia characteristic of old age [3]. The presence of cognitively stimulating activities among ones’ hobbies accounted for about 15% of the differences in memory decline, aside from what could be explained by the wear and tear of age, between avid bookworms and those who did not read at all [3]. Even compared to those who were just average in their reading and writing habits, participants who reported doing neither were associated with up to a 48% faster memory decline [3]. Granted, while reading does not counteract all effects of aging, it may help mitigate them. While reading has not been found to directly correspond with longer life, researchers at Yale interviewed participants from the representative Health and Retirement study about their reading habits, and concluded that 20% less risk of mortality was associated with those who read regularly, compared to those who did not [4].

As levels of anxiety rise with the impending exams season, reading might be key to weathering this incoming storm. Faculty at Seton Hall University found that, after exposing health science students to an array of treatments for their stress, 30 minutes of reading was associated with decreases in various major stress variables, such as blood pressure and heart rate, in students [5]. Although it may be difficult to find time to prioritize one’s health as a college student, it is crucial to take measures to stay healthy throughout the all-nighters and constant studying. After all, a healthy body creates a healthy mind. The next time you have a free 30 minutes, why not pick up a book?

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