health

February 11, 2026

Reading and writing can lower dementia risk by almost 40%, study finds

Cognitive health in later life is ‘strongly influenced’ by lifelong exposure to intellectually stimulating environments, say researchers

Reading and writing can lower dementia risk by almost 40%, study finds

TL;DR

  • Lifelong engagement in intellectually stimulating activities like reading, writing, and learning languages may reduce dementia risk by almost 40%.
  • A study followed nearly 2,000 adults and found higher scores in lifetime cognitive enrichment were linked to a 38% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease.
  • The highest levels of enrichment were also associated with a 36% lower risk of mild cognitive impairment and a significant delay in diagnosis.
  • Researchers suggest that access to enriching environments, such as libraries and early education programs, may help reduce dementia incidence.
  • While the study shows an association, it does not definitively prove that lifelong learning prevents dementia.

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