Reading boosts mood and brain

A new report has highlighted the many ways that reading for pleasure boosts your brain – including improving mental health and wellbeing. The report was written by researchers from the University of Cambridge, England and The Queen’s Reading Room – a charity founded by Queen Camilla. The researchers looked at lots of different studies about the effect of reading on the brain across different age groups. They found links between reading for fun and better brain function, improved mood and lower risk of some diseases later in life.

One of the pieces of research mentioned in the report is a 2023 study involving more than 10,000 young people. It compared young people who began reading for pleasure between the ages of three and 10 with those who did so later or not at all. The researchers found a strong link between reading for pleasure at an early age and good performances in tests that measured their ability to learn through words, their memory and speech development.

Children who read for pleasure at a young age also felt less stressed and were better at focusing their attention. When looking at brain scans of the young people, the researchers found physical changes to the brain in those that read for pleasure early on in their lives. These changes included areas of the brain linked to learning, mental health and attention.

The evidence suggests that reading can help young people with other subjects and areas of learning too. The report refers to a study that tracked 554 children over 12 years. It found that children who showed average or above-average reading skills during this time also improved their maths skills.

The report says that reading in groups may provide even more benefits. This is because it not only engages your brain but it helps you talk to other people about what you’re reading. The authors say this helps people feel less lonely. The report also mentions the benefits of reading the news – but it’s important to find reliable sources if you’re getting your news online (see panel).

Research suggests that young people are reading less than they used to. However, the new report mentioned a 2025 survey from the National Literacy Trust charity that provides some hope for the future. About 40% of children said they were motivated to read when the reading material was about their favourite film or TV series or matched their interests. Many children who said they did not enjoy reading still saw how it helps them learn new things.

The survey results suggest that combining reading with a person’s hobby or interests might be a way to increase reading for pleasure among young people.

نکات گرامری متن

۱. مجهول در زمان گذشته ساده (Past Simple Passive)

• دلیل بررسی: در پاراگراف اول از ساختار مجهول برای گزارشِ نویسندگان و پایه‌گذاران تحقیق استفاده شده است:

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  "The report was written by researchers..."

  "The Queen’s Reading Room – a charity founded by Queen Camilla" (مخفف which was founded)

• کاربرد: زمانی استفاده می‌شود که عمل انجام‌شده (نوشته شدن یا تأسیس شدن) یا مفعول عمل (گزارش/خیریه) مهم‌تر از فاعل باشد، یا تمرکز جمله بر روی نتیجه کار قرار دارد.

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• فرمول ساختار:

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• {Subject} +{was / were} + {Past Participle (V3)} + {by} + {Agent}

• مثال‌های تکمیلی:

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  • The new library was opened by the city mayor last week.

    (کتابخانه جدید هفته گذشته توسط شهردار شهر افتتاح شد.)

  • These important documents were preserved by the archive team.

    (این اسناد مهم توسط تیم بایگانی نگهداری شدند.)

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۲. ساختار ربطی دوگانه (Correlative Conjunction: Not only ... but also)

• دلیل بررسی: در پاراگراف پنجم برای بیان دو مزیت همزمان کتاب‌خوانی گروهی به کار رفته است:

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  "...it not only engages your brain but it helps you talk to other people..."

• کاربرد: برای افزودن تأکید بر اینکه علاوه بر ویژگی یا کار اول، ویژگی یا کار دومی (معمولاً حتی مهم‌تر یا جالب‌تر) نیز هم‌زمان صدق می‌کند.

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  • Physical exercise not only strengthens muscles but it helps improve mental focus.

    (ورزش بدنی نه تنها ماهیچه‌ها را قوی می‌کند، بلکه به بهبود تمرکز ذهنی نیز کمک می‌کند.)

  • She not only speaks three languages but also writes poetry in all of them.

    (او نه تنها به سه زبان صحبت می‌کند، بلکه به همه آن‌ها شعر هم می‌سراید.)