The aging brain loves a good read

Is reading the key to staying mentally sharp?

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IN a nutshell Hello again, friends! Whenever we broach the subject of healthy aging in Wellness Wire, we get lots of good feedback from you all. With that in mind, today we're focusing on one healthy aging habit in particular: reading, and the research that shows it may be a secret to staying sharp long term. Here's what else you can expect today: • 10 foods that support healthy aging • Demi Lovato's bipolar disorder diagnosis • Can a B12 deficiency cause depression? • Our head of medical affairs on the new breast cancer screening recs Stay sharp, Ginger Wojcik Newsletter Editor, Healthline

Written by Ginger Wojcik May 24, 2023 • 5 min read

what's got us buzzing Reading is good for your brain, especially as you get older How so? Reading has been found to stimulate every part of your brain and enhance connectivity between the different regions. Some of these effects can last days after your last read! Some other benefits of reading include increased empathy, reduced stress, and expanded vocabulary. Neat! But how does it help with aging? A 2008 study showed that people (ages 70–86) who read and solve math problems every day have fewer signs of cognitive decline. A 2013 study also found that people who did mentally stimulating activities, like reading, throughout their lives were less likely to develop plaques, lesions, and tau-protein tangles, all of which are commonly found in the brains of people with dementia. Wow, so reading can prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease? No, not quite. There's no known way to definitively prevent either of those conditions. However, the healthy aging benefits of reading are promising enough that the National Institute on Aging recommends reading as a way to stay mentally sharp as you age. On the lookout for new books this summer? Our next story may be able to help! More on healthy aging: 10 foods that support healthy aging A definitive guide to supplements for healthy aging A healthy aging guide to strength training and stretching at home

say what   Look who's talking "I remember being 15 years old on a tour bus and watching fans follow my bus with posters and trying to get me to wave outside the window. And all I could do was just sit there and cry. And I remember being in the back of my tour bus watching my fans and crying and being like, 'Why am I so unhappy?" – Demi Lovato, on the relief of getting diagnosed with bipolar disorder     The singer and actress has always been open about her mental health. Recently, she shared what it felt like to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a young person in an interview with People. Experts Healthline spoke with say it's valuable when celebrities go public with their experiences because it helps destigmatize the condition and may encourage people to look for help of their own.

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Wednesday Kick Start Do you get less out of books when you listen to them? While many purists claim that listening to books doesn't carry the same bookish benefits as reading them does, there's plenty of evidence that suggests this isn't true. Case and point: One study found no significant difference in reading comprehension between participants who listened to an audiobook and those who read from an electronic tablet. Research from 2019 also found that reading and listening evoked the exact same brain activity. The reality is, for many of us, it's easier to find the time to listen to a book than to read one. If you fall into this camp, you probably want to know about Chirp audiobooks. With Chirp audiobooks, you pay for the audiobooks you want and that's it. No monthly subscription payment. No hidden costs or shady fees. Chirp audiobooks also runs limited time deals with up to 95% off list price, with some books going for as little as $1.99! You don't even have to give the book back when you're done. It's yours to keep. As for me, I'll be finding my next beach read in Chirp audiobooks' Book Clubs. Check out their options, including: • buzzy page-turners for suspense lovers • mind-expanding non-fiction reads • New York Times bestsellers

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health stories you need What we're reading next 🧑‍⚕️ Screening for breast cancer at 40 makes sense, but we can do more. Our head of medical affairs, Jenny Yu, weighs in about the new screening recommendations. 💊 Antidepressants probably aren't the answer for treating chronic pain. A new review found that only 1 in 25 antidepressants could ease chronic pain symptoms. 🌧️ Can a B12 deficiency cause depression? There's ample research linking this essential nutrient to symptoms of depression. We take a closer look at what it all means. 🥤 Non-sugar sweeteners won't help you lose weight long term, says WHO. Learn why many experts are getting behind the World Health Organization's new guidance.

you're up I owe so much to reading. In addition to all the wonderful benefits mentioned above, reading inspired me to pursue a career in writing. I've also forged multiple friendships over a shared love of books. I couldn't imagine a world without reading, and thank goodness there are so many good books and stories to choose from! Tell us: What's the best health-related book that you've read recently? Let us know at wellnesswire@healthline.com. (Please note that we may share your name and response in an upcoming newsletter!)

Thanks for reading, everyone! Last week, reader S. Pollard wrote in with some follow-up information about UTIs (which we ran by our medical network just to be sure — and it checked out!). So we're sharing it below in case it helps anyone. I would just like to add, and I'm sure there will be others, to continue encouraging readers to go to the doctor if their UTI symptoms do not go away or return within days. It may not be a persistent UTI. And, unfortunately, [many] doctors won't check for this. It may be interstitial cystitis in which case drinking cranberry juice [may be] one of the worst things to be drinking. For more information on the symptoms of interstitial cystitis and how it's treated, read our article here.

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