Reading vs. Alzheimer’s

By Linh N., Grade 10

Alzheimer’s Disease affects more than 6 million people in the United States, most of which are in their sixties or seventies. This disease progresses in five stages, and although it depends on the person, the brain deteriorates over a course of about a decade. This is not to be confused with dementia - dementia is a general term that encompasses loss of cognitive functions, while Alzheimer’s is a specific type of dementia. 

Symptoms may include loss of memory, the ability to make decisions, think, and reason. It may even lead to changes in personality; a person with dementia may experience mood swings, irritability, depression, and other emotions. Eventually, the person may not even be able to do simple tasks. There have been many studies conducted about this disease, and some drugs have been known to help with symptoms, but scientists have yet to find a cure.

Fortunately, not all is lost! In rare cases, Alzheimer’s can be hereditary, but generally it develops due to environmental factors, such as stress or poor lifestyle choices. Additionally, although there is no cure yet, there are many ways to delay Alzheimer’s Disease - some people have been known to live twenty years after diagnosis compared to the usual four to eight as a result of some important choices. Simple changes in lifestyle can make a large impact on a person’s health - switching up diet, improving sleep habits, and exercising and socializing frequently are all proven methods that help! 

Mental stimulation - especially reading - has also been found to reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s, and even lessen the chance of it developing. Your brain needs regular exercise to function at full capacity, like the muscles in your body, and reading is an effective way to do this. But how exactly does reading help?

The Memory and Age Project is a research program with the objective of uncovering the mysteries behind cognitive change during aging. They focus specifically on diseases like Alzheimer’s, study factors that may cause it, and conduct research projects. Their method is simple and has been ongoing for thirty years; researchers analyze thousands of volunteers who go in for periodic checkups and have them perform tasks. These volunteers are usually on the older side(60s), are pulled directly from the community, and are assessed for memory, function, processing, and attention skills. The results of the data are very fascinating, and prove that those who read more really are more resistant to brain diseases.

A new hypothesis that developed during this project is called “Cognitive Reserve”. In sum, every time an individual performs mentally stimulating tasks (reading, writing, etc), a cognitive reserve is developed and built up. People with a higher reserve have stronger brains and consequently are more resilient to changes during aging. Even those who have brain diseases already show much slower brain decline compared to others! This is because reading stimulates the brain, keeping it active and encouraging the maintenance of neural connections. 

Furthermore, several studies show just how impactful reading is. Research done by Neurology found that individuals who engage in mentally stimulating activities have a 32% lower rate of cognitive decline compared to those who did not. Another study by the Rush University Medical Center revealed that people who frequently read books, wrote letters, or engaged in other cognitive activities had a 2.5 times lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s than those who were less mentally active. Clearly, reading is effective in preventing this disease.

Reading can also decrease stress and improve emotional health by providing an escape. When immersed in a book, I personally find that I detach from all the stresses and worries from daily life and can fully relax in my down time. I find that it’s an amazing way to wind down before bed or fill the hours during the summer! Additionally, when school gets very busy and I cannot find time to read, I find that that’s when my mental health dips the most. That’s why I try to read as much as I can. Reading doesn’t have to be rigorous and scheduled (that’s so unenjoyable!), and you don’t have to read books with thousands of pages or complex vocabulary. It can be a book you have read dozens of times or even a simpler chapter book. All that matters is that you open a book and read for a few minutes a day!

However, it may be difficult for people with Alzheimer’s Disease to read if their disease is in the later stages, as the disease affects short-term memory, attention, and processing. These skills are all essential to reading unfortunately, and this can be a challenge. Later stages may also lead to changes in vision, loss of interest, and difficulty understanding words or sentences.

Despite this challenge, it is still very worthwhile to read regularly, as it has many proven benefits. There are many ways to make reading easier, including larger texts or simpler books. Audiobooks are also a great option. Some sites I like to listen to are Audible or Spotify.

In conclusion, keeping your brain active is just as important as eating healthily, doing cardio, or de-stressing. All of these things improve health overall and contribute to making your brain strong!

• Research links
  • https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447
  • https://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia-aging/preventing-alzheimers-disease.htm
  • https://www.elderwood.com/Blog/post/2019/10/15/how-reading-can-improve-and-prevent-alzheimer-s#:~:text=While%20reading%20isn't%20a,incorporate%20reading%20into%20your%20lifestyle.