Reading for cognitive health: how books help you stay independent for longer

Reading as preventative care: Supporting cognitive health for longer independence

How everyday reading habits help us stay independent for longer

At Abney and Baker , we believe that the future of care lies not in doing more to people, but in helping people need less care in the first place. That belief underpins our five pillars of preventative wellbeing and one of the most important among them is Cognitive Health.

Notably, a 2026 study found that people who regularly read books live an average of 23 months longer than non-readers, highlighting that literacy is intricately linked to life expectancy.

What is cognitive health?

Cognitive health shapes how we remember, communicate, make decisions, manage emotions, and connect with others. When it is supported, people are more likely to remain confident, capable, and independent as they age.

One of the most effective and enjoyable ways to support cognitive health is also one of the simplest: reading. Active readers have, on average, demonstrably better mental health than non-readers, and reading for pleasure improves self-esteem and inspires creativity.

Why cognitive health deserves preventative attention

Cognitive decline is often treated as inevitable or only addressed once noticeable difficulties arise. However, decades of research in ageing, neurology, and public health show that the brain remains adaptable throughout life. Reading for 15–30 minutes daily significantly impacts both cognitive and physical health.

Mentally stimulating activities particularly those involving language, memory, and sustained attention are associated with:

Slower rates of cognitive decline

Improved memory and verbal ability

Better executive function (planning, reasoning, judgement)

Reduced risk of dementia

Improved mood and reduced stress

Reading stands out because it activates multiple cognitive systems at once, making it more effective than passive activities. It also strengthens synaptic connections and reinforces neural pathways, helping to maintain brain sharpness.

Cognitive decline and dementia

Mental stimulation from reading can reduce the rate of mental decline by 32% in older adults. Regular reading is associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline and can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia UK are key partners and supporters of reading-related health programmes, especially in the context of dementia and Alzheimer’s, providing expertise and endorsement for evidence-based resources. The Alzheimer’s Society collaborates with a wide range of organizations and endorses initiatives like the Reading Well Programme, ensuring that dementia-related health programmes are informed by both professional expertise and lived experience. This partnership approach helps empower people and support people living with dementia by providing accessible, evidence-based information and resources.

Reading as a Preventative Care intervention

When we read, the brain is doing far more than absorbing words. it is:

Tracking narratives and timelines

Remembering characters and relationships

Interpreting emotions and motivations

Visualising environments and events

Making predictions and connections

This layered engagement helps build cognitive reserve – the brain’s ability to adapt to age-related change. Reading is also uniquely powerful because it requires no specialist equipment, can be adapted to different abilities (large print, audiobooks, shared reading), fits naturally into daily routines, supports emotional wellbeing as well as cognition. This makes reading a clear example of low-cost, high-impact preventative care. Reading can also improve cognitive function and reduce the severity of dementia symptoms, making it a valuable preventative care intervention.

The Reading Well Programme is a national Books on Prescription initiative developed by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with Libraries Connected. This structured health programme and prescription programme developed with input from health professionals and people with lived experience inform the selection of all books on the scheme, ensuring they provide evidence-based information tailored to real user needs. Reading Well books can be borrowed for free from public libraries across England and Wales, making these resources widely accessible. Since 2013, over 3.8 million Reading Well books have been borrowed from public libraries, demonstrating significant community impact. Reading Well is endorsed and supported by over 40 partners, including various health organizations and charities, further validating its effectiveness.

These programmes empower people and support people to manage their health and wellbeing, providing post diagnosis information and resources to help individuals after receiving a diagnosis. Public libraries play a crucial role in making these resources available to everyone, especially whilst people are waiting for treatment or seeking information, ensuring support is accessible when it is most needed.

What people are actually choosing to read?

We recently held a Book Swap event at our Social & Skills Club where we saw a wide range of books being picked up, swapped, and discussed. These books weren’t chosen because they were “good for the brain” – they were chosen because they were engaging, familiar, or simply enjoyable.

**That matters.**

The most effective preventative habits are the ones people genuinely want to continue. Think about a book as a friend that you want to keep interacting with. Books are your own little friends where they share their own interesting worlds to you. Each book may or may not be liked by the same person as making friends. You going to like some people and call them your friends and others you not going to keep them as friends because you don’t click with them as well.

Below are some of the books we saw, along with additional recommendations by genre that offer similar cognitive benefits.

Psychological & Character-Driven Fiction

These novels support cognitive health by encouraging emotional insight, reflection, and attention to detail. Reading fiction also enhances empathy and social intelligence by improving the understanding of others’ emotions and motivations, and following complex narratives improves episodic and working memory.

Featured choice:

Further recommendations:

Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates

The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

A Single Man - Christopher Isherwood

Cognitive benefits:

Supports emotional processing, memory, reasoning, and sustained attention.

Nostalgic, Cultural & Entertainment-Based Fiction

These books often feel accessible while still stimulating memory and emotional engagement.

Featured choice:

Confetti Confidential – Holly McQueen

Chosen for its blend of nostalgia, glamour, and insight into the personal lives behind public entertainment. Familiar cultural settings help readers stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed.

Further recommendations:

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid

Funny Girl – Nick Hornby

A Single Man - Christopher Isherwoo

Cognitive benefits:

Strengthens associative memory, emotional recall, and enjoyment-led engagement.

Historical Fiction & Immersive Storytelling

Historical novels are particularly valuable for cognitive health because they encourage longer-term focus and memory.

Featured choice:

The Crimson Petal and the White – Michel Faber

A richly detailed Victorian novel that rewards sustained attention and reflection through complex characters and social themes.

Harem – Barbara Nadel

Set in a historical royal court, this novel introduces unfamiliar social structures and perspectives, encouraging curiosity and mental flexibility.

Further recommendations:

Wolf Hall – Hilary Mantel

Pillars of the Earth – Ken Follett

Girl with a Pearl Earring – Tracy Chevalier

Cognitive benefits:

Engages comprehension, recall, and critical thinking over extended reading periods.

Broadening Perspectives & Mental Flexibility

Books that introduce different cultures, viewpoints, or moral frameworks help the brain process novelty – an important factor in cognitive resilience.

Recommendations:

A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini

Life of Pi – Yann Martel

Cognitive benefits:

Supports empathy, abstract thinking, and neural adaptability.

Reading together: The social side of cognitive health

While reading alone is beneficial, shared reading experiences increase impact. Reading can combat feelings of loneliness by sparking meaningful conversations and shared interests, and provides proxy social experiences, especially for seniors.

Book swaps, reading groups, and informal conversations:

Encourage recall and verbal expression

Reduce isolation

Strengthen routine and purpose

Reinforce social connection

Our Book Swap event showed how reading can act as a bridge between cognitive and social wellbeing.

Our next Social & Skills Club event will focus on creating your own masterpiece, aptly named ‘Make Your Own Masterpiece’. This will take place on the 18th of February at That Meeting Point, Melksham from 1.30 PM to 3.30PM. While focused on creativity rather than reading, it serves the same preventative purpose of encouraging focus, imagination, and meaningful engagement.

Preventative cognitive care isn’t about one activity; it’s about creating regular opportunities for people to stay mentally active in ways that feel enjoyable and human.

At Abney and Baker, our Cognitive Health pillar is about:

Supporting independence

Reducing avoidable care needs

Embedding wellbeing into everyday life

Reading is one of the clearest examples of how prevention can be simple, familiar, and effective. Self help books and shared stories play a vital role in supporting mental health and wellbeing, offering personal development, emotional support, and community connection.

Incorporating reading into a nightly routine can improve sleep hygiene, which is vital for long-term cognitive health. Reading printed books is better for sleep and focus than reading on screens, which may cause eye strain. Regular readers benefit from improved sleep, concentration, and a better ability to cope with difficult situations. Reading reduces stress by up to 68%, according to a study conducted by the University of Sussex. The practice of reading has also been linked to improved reasoning, problem-solving, and analytical skills, often referred to as “Fluid Intelligence.” Regular exposure to new words and concepts through reading increases vocabulary and enhances communication skills.

Reading for pleasure reduces psychological distress for college students and improves resilience and wellbeing for older people. A 2015 study found that non-readers are 28% more likely than readers to report feelings of depression. Children who are most engaged with literacy are three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing than those who are least engaged. Early childhood reading for pleasure is linked to better cognitive performance and mental health during adolescence. Reading can also improve employment opportunities and help escape the cycle of poverty.

Sometimes, the most powerful care starts with opening a book.

How reading improves health

Reading is a simple yet powerful way to support both mental health and physical wellbeing, making it an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. The British Psychological Society highlights how reading can help reduce symptoms of common mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, by offering a safe space to explore personal stories, access health information, and learn new coping strategies. Through book-based therapy and the sharing of lived experiences, reading helps people manage their mental health needs and challenges the stigma often associated with poor mental health.

Health professionals including general practitioners and mental health professionals – frequently suggest books as part of a helpful community-based programme to support mental health and wellbeing. The Reading Agency, a national charity with a primary focus on empowering people to read, has developed the Reading Well scheme, a prescription programme that provides recommended reading for individuals facing specific health needs. This evidence-based programme offers practical support and information for those dealing with difficult feelings, low self-esteem, or other mental health conditions, making it easier for people to access the resources they need.

The National Literacy Trust emphasizes the importance of encouraging children to read from an early age, as this can lay the foundation for good mental health and boost self-esteem throughout life. Fiction books allow readers to see the world from different perspectives, increasing empathy and understanding, while non-fiction books provide valuable information and support for those navigating issues like body image or gender identity. By offering a wide range of recommended reading, the Reading Well scheme ensures that everyone can find resources relevant to their mental health and wellbeing.

Government ministers and health professionals recognize reading as an effective, accessible, and cost-effective wellbeing intervention that can improve public health outcomes. The Reading Well scheme, developed in partnership with organizations such as the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Alzheimer’s Society, is shaped by co-production partners with lived experience of mental health conditions, ensuring that the programme meets real-world needs. This collaborative approach helps combat stigma, empower people to self-manage their mental health, and provide support for those awaiting treatment or looking for additional wellbeing resources.

Beyond its mental health benefits, reading can also positively impact physical health. Research shows that reading can help ease muscle tension, lower blood pressure, and improve cognitive function, making it a valuable tool for overall health and wellbeing. The Reading Agency’s health work contact offers further information and support for individuals seeking to improve their health through reading, whether they are looking for a good story to escape into or evidence-based information to help manage daily life.

In summary, reading is a proven and effective way to support mental health and wellbeing, offering benefits that extend from childhood through later life. By providing access to recommended reading, book-based therapy, and personal stories, reading empowers people to manage their mental health needs, combat stigma, and improve their quality of life, one page at a time.