Reading and dementia: the research
Why does reading become challenging?
A number of studies suggest that reading can help stave off dementia, by increasing ‘cognitive reserve’ (1). But what about for people already living with the brain changes of dementia? These changes affect reading capacity, reduce the ability to concentrate, cause vision difficulties, and make it hard for people to remember what they read (2).
What kind of books can help?
While reading is considered a ‘preserved skill’ and can still be possible for people living with dementia, it requires carefully selected or well-designed reading material. This should include visual elements like pictures of photographs, large clear print, short paragraphs with good spacing, and a limited amount of straightforward and engaging text per page (2). In general, text should not be childish (unless it is for reading to a grandchild).
What does the research say?
There have been studies that link reading to benefits such as reduction in dementia symptom severity (3) and, for a shared reading group experience, actual improvements in memory and attention (4) (5). Shared reading allows discussion, reminiscence and reflection in a situation where standard conversational prompts (about recent activities) no longer work. This means that care partners also benefit from the renewed connection.
Shared reading of poetry has attracted particular interest as many seniors have read and memorised poetry at school and find the condensed and rhythmic nature of the reading experience more accessible (6).
Where are the reading materials available?
Most memory-friendly reading resources are produced by dementia organisations, niche providers, or by writers self-publishing on Amazon – not by mainstream publishers. This means that families looking for books for their loved ones will not find them in Dymocks. They may try to offer children’s picture books instead.
What can libraries offer?
This is where libraries come into their own! They can locate, provide and promote memory-friendly reading material, support care partners with information on how shared reading can work, and perhaps even run their own shared reading sessions.
Is there something I can watch or read on this?
Here is a brief list of suggestions:
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/health-22775438 A BBC video: Can poetry help dementia patients? (3 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sYEZY7ovvo Reading for resilience: The Reader (2 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1rDzw0u1X0 Can Dementia Patients read?: The ElderCare network (3 minutes)
Reading in the Moment: Stories and Activities: Anne Vize, 2017 – how to run bibliotherapy sessions, plus actual resources to use
Reading for Dementia. A chapter in: Billington, J. (eds) Reading and Mental Health. Clark, K., Weber, C., McLaine, S. (2019). Palgrave Macmillan.
The Scottish Book Trust Reading is Caring Program offers research-based information: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/articles/dementia-and-why-reading-matters
A research-based article on how libraries can help from MemoryCare.com: https://www.memorycare.com/power-of-reading-and-benefits-of-libraries-for-people-with-dementia/
Reading2Connect produce dementia-friendly reading resources which are only sold as part of their programs, but have extensive information on their site: https://www.reading2connect.com/books
References:
1. Can reading increase cognitive reserve? Carol C. Chan, International Psychogeriatrics, Vol 33, Issue 1, Jan 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104161022403672X
2. Reading2Connect allows older adults with dementia to re-engage with a lifelong habit: Susan Ostrowski, American Society on Aging, Generations Now: https://generations.asaging.org/older-adults-dementia-reading-again
3. A literature-based intervention for older people living with dementia: J. Billington, J. Carroll & P. Kinderman, Royal Society for Public Health Vol 133, Issue 3, Jan 2013. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1757913912470052
4. Reading is Caring independent evaluation: includes participant feedback: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/reading-and-stories/reading-is-caring/reading-is-caring-evaluation with link to executive summary.
5. Active Ageing and Older Persons Living with Dementia: A Shared Reading Intervention Formosa, M. (2024). In: Paoletti, I. (eds) Creating New Meanings For Old Age. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-97-5041-2_8
6. Recommended reads: Poetry and Dementia: The Reader, September 2016: https://www.thereader.org.uk/recommended-reads-poetry-and-dementia/
Also
‘The spark will ignite’: how poetry helps engage people with dementia: Emma Sheppard in The Guardian, 19 March 2018: https://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2018/mar/19/poetry-care-homes-dementia
