Reading books prolongs life for two years. This fact became known to science when the staff at the School of public health at Yale University published the results of their study in the journal Science & Social Medicine. The main merit of reading – strengthening of communication between brain cells, which reduces the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, which lead to premature death. Not to mention the fact that books develop the imagination and memory, as well as a good antidepressant. About these and other benefits of reading from a scientific point of view says likar.info.
Reading reduces stress
Stress is a risk factor for about 60% of all human disease, say scientists and doctors. First, prolonged stress increases the risk of stroke (50%) and other cardiovascular diseases (40%).
Of course, to completely avoid the stressful situations in everyday life is almost impossible. Can only try to reduce their negative impact. And one of the strategies involves reading.
According to a 2009 study conducted at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, reading can reduce stress up to 68%. It is even more than listening to your favorite music and walk. Walk cancel is not necessary, but add reading to the list of options is a very good idea.
Scientists have discovered that only 6 minutes of reading slow heart rate and reduce muscle tension.But that’s reading from the monitor is not the case.
Reading reduces the risk of dementia
With age, our brain slows down. And if earlier to remember a coworker’s name or house number was very easy, it does not seem such a simple task. But, after some research it turned out that reading prevents a decrease in cognitive performance up to severe forms of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
It became known in 2013, when scientists from the Medical center of rush University in Chicago found that reading can save you from dementia.
They examined data on 294 adults with an average age of 89. For six years participants annually performed a series of tests for memory and thinking. They also completed a questionnaire with detailed description of all the activities that they performed during life, they were treated and reading books.
Posthumously analyzing the state of the brain of each participant, the researchers came to surprising conclusions. It was found in the brain of people who in life “were a book”, was found much less evidence of dementia in the form of brain lesions.
The results confirmed previous studies that indicated that reading books, writing, chess and other educational games reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Reading cures insomnia
Smartphones have become our constant companions, especially before bedtime. However, it became known that artificial lighting poses a threat, including insomnia. In the first place because the light emitted from our gadgets reduces the production in the brain melatonin – the sleep hormone. Another thing – books. According to the Mayo clinic, the reading of books contributes to better sleep by easing the transition between wakefulness and drowsiness.
Reading helps to find solutions to complex problems
Some people consider books as a way to escape reality. However, scientific studies have shown that reading on the contrary enhances social skills.
The rich experiments in 2013 in the journal Science published another fascinating article about the benefits of reading. It was about the fact that people who read fiction, possess the unique ability to divide people’s beliefs, common standards and imposed thoughts and your own. And already in the beginning of 2016 at the ZPM was published for more information about how reading books helps you to navigate the world and establish social contacts.
The author of this study whale Outli from the University of Toronto suggests that fiction allows the reader to interact with fictional characters in the future to design the experience of reality. It is easier to find common language with other people, to find a way out of difficult situations and even better to understand the second half.
