Reading & Alzheimer’s – does it help? Learning something that takes effort (also known as dynamic learning) has been proven to boost cognitive health. Simply put, learning new things is good for our brains.
Participating in activities like reading, writing, and other stimulating activities has been shown to help maintain brain health. Preserving brain health can prevent or slow down the onset of Alzheimer’s.
However, there is a twist with today’s technology. For bibliophiles who love printed books, this study was for you. Our brains appear to process written words differently if they in book form or tablet.
Reading printed words “the old-fashioned way” allows our brains to do more “deep reading.” Deep reading is a more concentrated style of reading. According to some research, reading paper versus plasma allows us to immerse ourselves in the text.
Conversely, reading on the internet is more linear. Our focus shifts more easily when we read on the internet or any digital print. I’m not sure I agree that ALL digital text allows our brains to jump around. I read on an iPad in iBooks. I have no problem immersing myself in the story.
If we utilize the benefits of reading to prevent Alzheimer’s, the answer seems simple to me. Make some time daily to read both digitally and analog (or paper). By doing this, we should give our brains the benefits of both styles of reading.
Interestingly enough, I did not find research on the difference between printed crossword puzzles and digital versions. I guess to be safe you should do both?
Related Podcast Episode
Summer Reading with Gray Matters
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