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0What are the hidden benefits of reading?
We've all heard that reading builds imagination and vocabulary and helps us learn, but there's more. Research suggests it may even help us live longer.
Really, how is that possible?
In 2016, Yale University researchers followed more than 3,600 adults over 50 for 12 years, tracking their reading habits and life expectancy. Their findings were striking. People who regularly read books lived, on average, nearly two years longer than those who didn't read at all.
Swart explains this link in practical terms. One key factor is the social emotional power of reading. Raymond Marr, a psychology professor at York University and leading researcher on the topic, says books help us maintain social and emotional skills, especially important as people age and may feel more isolated.
As he told Slate, reading trains us to understand emotions, navigate relationships and gain perspective even when we're physically alone. Stories create a sense of presence, ease loneliness and can even spark real-world connections like book clubs.
Beyond social connection, what else does reading do for us?
It helps regulate stress and protect the brain. Reading often puts us into a calm, focused, almost meditative state, which can lower stress, a known factor in healthy ageing. On top of that, a 14-year study published in 2020 by the US National Library of Medicine found slower cognitive decline in adults who regularly engage in activities like reading.
As psychotherapist Zoe Shaw explained in National Geographic, reading activates multiple brain networks at once, language, memory, attention, imagination, building a cognitive reserve that helps the brain better resist aging.
In short, if you're looking for a simple way to care for your mind and maybe even extend your life, then cracking open a book is a pretty good place to start. There you have it.
词汇表
life expectancy [ɪkˌspektənsi] n. 预期寿命
striking [ˈstraɪkɪŋ] adj. 显著的，惊人的
a sense of presence 在场感，存在感，临场感
meditative [ˈmedɪtətɪv] adj. 冥想的，沉思的
healthy ageing 健康老龄化
psychotherapist [ˌsaɪkəʊˈθerəpɪst] n. 心理治疗师
brain networks [ˈnetwɜːks] 大脑网络
cognitive reserve [ˈkɒɡnɪtɪv rɪˈzɜːv] 认知储备
crack open a book 翻开一本书，打开书（开始阅读）
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