Study Links Reading for Pleasure to Better Mental Health and Cognitive Function

Reading for pleasure may support mental wellbeing, cognitive function and brain health across the lifespan, according to a review by researchers at the University of Cambridge and The Queen’s Reading Room.

Published in Psychological Medicine, the review examined evidence linking leisure reading with cognitive, psychological and social benefits. Researchers noted that reading is associated with better attention, memory and executive function, particularly among children and adolescents.

A study involving more than 10,000 young people found that those who started reading for pleasure earlier in life showed better cognitive performance and academic achievement, fewer mental health problems and healthier lifestyle patterns, including more sleep and less screen time.

In adults, reading has been associated with lower stress, improved relaxation, greater empathy and a better understanding of different perspectives. Shared reading through book clubs or reading with children may provide additional benefits by increasing social interaction and reducing feelings of isolation.

The potential benefits may also extend to older adults. Studies have linked leisure activities such as reading with slower cognitive decline and a lower risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. One study of nearly 5,500 adults aged 55 years and older found that people who frequently participated in cognitively stimulating activities, including reading, were less likely to develop cognitive impairment during five years of follow-up.

Brain imaging research has also associated reading with structural and connectivity differences in regions involved in language, learning, emotional regulation and executive control. Some intervention studies suggest that improvements in reading ability may be accompanied by changes in brain structure.

However, researchers emphasised that much of the available evidence is observational and demonstrates associations rather than proving that reading directly prevents mental health disorders or dementia.

The review suggests that encouraging enjoyable reading from childhood, including through comics and graphic novels, may offer a simple way to support cognitive and psychological wellbeing throughout life.

REFERENCE: Sahakian, B. J., et al. (2026) Reading and associations with brain health, cognition, wellbeing and mental health. Psychological Medicine. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291726105625.