New research shows that people who read a lot live longer. The study was carried by researchers Yale University the USA. The researchers said reading keeps the mind active, helps reduce stress and makes us take better care our health. The researchers said that books help the brain more than newspapers and magazines, but any kind reading will help us to live longer. Even reading half an hour a day could help us to live longer. In the study, researchers looked the lifestyles 3,500 men and women a 12-year period. They looked at their reading habits, health, lifestyle and their education. All the people were at least 50 years old at the start of the research.
The study is the journal 'Social Science and Medicine'. It found that people who read for to 3.5 hours a week were 17 per cent less likely to die the study’s 12-year research period than those who read no books. Those who read more than 3.5 hours a week were 23 per cent less likely to die. Researcher Becca Levy said: "Older individuals, regardless gender, health, wealth or education, showed the survival advantage of reading books." She suggested people swap watching TV reading to live longer. She said: "Individuals the age 65 spend an average 4.4 hours per day watching television. Efforts to redirect leisure time reading books could prove to be beneficial."
