New retirees are suddenly confronted with plenty of time on their hands. Many might be happy to know that reading keeps one mentally alert and abreast of current affairs, says Ursula Lenz of Germany's working group of senior citizens' organisations, BAGSO. Growing old can present difficulties such as failing eyesight or problems concentrating, but experts encourage the elderly not to give up on reading and to adapt to their abilities.
From the perspective of health professionals, there are many advantages to reading books or newspapers for senior citizens. "It's a special form of mental activity that usually requires a higher level of concentration than watching TV," says Lenz.
The ability to transform words into mental images is good for cognitive performance. Reading also improves vocabulary, language use and the ability to concentrate, according to Simone Helck from the Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe, an organisation in Germany that helps promote and develop strategies for taking care of the elderly.
What exactly happens in the brain when we read? "The brain builds new synapses, junctions between the neurons, when it's stimulated such as during reading," says Manfred Gogol, a physician and president of Germany's Society for Gerontology and Geriatrics. However, it is not enough to pick up a book once a year.
Gogol recommends reading books that deal with subjects that are of special interest to the reader. If a long novel seems like too much work, then try a novella or collection of short stories. But a prerequisite for reading is that any sight defect is corrected by an optician.
According to a recent German study, about 55 per cent of over 60-year-olds find reading for long periods difficult. About a fifth say they have to take reading breaks in order to rest their eyes. The study was conducted in 2008 by the German readying advocacy group, Stiftung Lesen.
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