Early Reading May Shape Brains and Mood Across Life
Large studies find that children who start reading for pleasure between ages 2–9 show better adolescent cognitive skills, academic performance, and mental well‑being, with brain scans indicating larger cognitive regions; benefits peak around 12 hours of reading per week and may level off if reading time crowds out sports or social activity, while adults who read regularly tend to have lower stress and may enjoy better cognitive health later in life.
