Reading and writing can lower dementia risk by almost 40%, study suggests

Public investments that expand access to enriching environments such as libraries may help to reduce the incidence of dementia, the study author said. Photograph: Westend61/Getty Images

Reading, writing and learning a language or two can lower your risk of dementia by almost 40%, according to a study that suggests millions of people could prevent or delay the condition.

Dementia is one of the world’s biggest health threats. The number of people living with the condition is forecast to triple to more than 150 million globally by 2050, and experts say it presents a big and rapidly growing threat to future health and social care systems in every community, country and continent.