Reading a good book might do more than help you unwind. Researchers at Yale University found that adults who regularly read books had a 20 percent lower risk of death during a 12-year follow-up compared with people who didn’t read books.

The finding comes from a 2016 study published in Social Science & Medicine that examined 3,635 Americans over age 50. The research has attracted renewed attention in October 2026, raising an intriguing question: Could something as simple as reading help support a longer life?

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Why Books Had an Advantage Over Newspapers

Researchers compared book readers with people who preferred newspapers and magazines.…