14 ways reading improves your mind and body (Infographic)

Editor’s note: This article was reviewed and updated in July 2026 to meet Expert Editor’s latest editorial standards.

As any avid book reader can tell you, immersing yourself in a great book can make your brain come alive. It sounds romantic, but science is now proving this to be true.

When we read, not only are we improving memory and empathy, but research has shown that it makes us feel better and more positive too. Science has shown that reading has notable health benefits, including helping with depression, cutting stress, and reducing the chances of developing Alzheimer’s later in life.

If you’re one of countless people who don’t make a habit of reading regularly, you might be missing out. To be inspired to become an avid reader, we’ve created the infographic below on the brain-boosting benefits of reading.

You may not think about this at all as you are cozying up and about to open a book, but reading is an activity that can make you sharper, stronger, happier, and have better relationships to boot.

Reading is an exercise for the brain that can strengthen neuronal pathways as well as create new ones. Being immersed in a book can help reduce stress and improve sleep. From encouraging the development of children’s brains to staving off dementia in the elderly, reading is associated with a range of long-term wellbeing benefits.

Written words haven’t been around that long

The first evidence of written language goes back to approximately 5,000 years ago. Humans, however, have been around for at least 200,000 years — and more recent fossil discoveries suggest our species may be considerably older. The time frame during which humans acquired spoken language is debated, with estimates ranging widely from roughly 200,000 years ago to somewhere around 50,000–70,000 years ago. These early humans were almost certainly illiterate.

Writing and reading rewired the human brain, and transformed human civilization.

Reading affects your brain

What happens when a literate human reads a written word? The word is processed from the eyes to the occipital lobe at the back of the brain. The word then becomes recognized in the left fusiform gyrus, a part of the brain that becomes specialised in literate people. Recognized as a symbol, and not as patterns or shapes, the word and its letters can thus be identified in any font, case, or typeface. This data is subsequently processed in the language areas of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which can decipher the word’s meaning and how it is pronounced.

Whether you are studying a book for school or just reading for pleasure, the storyline, characters, subplots, and various other details that make up a book stimulate your memory and the ability to recall. The consumption of complex poetry has been shown to be especially helpful in stimulating brain function in areas of language and personal memory.

University of Liverpool researchers used poetry from Shakespeare, Wordsworth, T.S. Eliot, and others to study how complex literary language affects the brain. They found that the more demanding the text, the stronger the activity shown in the language areas of the brain. In addition, the regions of the brain associated with personal memories were active during reading as well, suggesting that poetry can nudge us to draw from personal experiences.

Your brain can remain active even after you put your book down. The increased brain activity associated with reading the night before was found to last for at least several days, according to a 2013 study at Emory University. This “shadow activity” is analogous to muscle memory, and was observed in language-related regions including the left temporal cortex.

Does the way you read make a difference in how your brain responds? The brain does react differently depending on the type of focus you bring to reading. In a 2012 study at Stanford University, blood flow in the brain was examined through functional magnetic resonance imaging as people read Jane Austen.

When reading in a focused manner, similar to the way you might study for a test, blood flow was globally increased, demonstrating that focused attention during reading draws on many different cognitive functions. When subjects were asked to read in a leisurely manner, different regions — distinct from those engaged by focused reading — experienced increased blood flow.

Reading affects your mental and physical health

A University of Sussex study found that reading can reduce stress levels by as much as 68% — though it’s worth noting the research was conducted by a private consultancy and was not published in a peer-reviewed journal. If you incorporate reading into your bedtime ritual, you may also help yourself sleep better. You may want to avoid screens before bed, however.

A 2015 study published in PNAS found the use of electronic devices before bedtime can disrupt sleep and circadian rhythm timing. If you find yourself writing your thesis or dissertation late into the night and not getting enough sleep, consider having your work professionally edited to ease the load.

Depressed patients have been found to benefit from reading stories aloud with other people, as well as reading self-help books that can help elevate their mood. Research has also suggested that elderly people who regularly read or participate in other mentally engaging tasks may be significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who are less cognitively active.

Empathy is a quality that can be developed through reading. When you read about characters in a story, you are able to understand their perspective and motivations — an ability that can carry over into your relationships. Having a strong social network has been found to support a longer, healthier life.

Note: If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or cognitive decline, please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised advice.

Reading enhances a child’s development

Children who read can apply what they’ve learned in books to a range of real-world scenarios. Cause and effect, empathy, and rational or moral judgement are just some of the concepts children can develop through reading.

Young children who are learning to read begin to develop their brain’s left fusiform gyrus, where learned words and letters are stored. The more they read, the more connections are formed between the visual and language parts of the brain.

Go find a book to read

Reading can strengthen your brain and touch many other areas of your life. Head to your local library or bookstore and pick up something that interests you — your brain will thank you.