Re-imagined, reading for people living with dementia need not involve novels, newspapers, or pages full of text. Instead, a page might have a few lines of large, bold text paired with vivid imagery—a phrase such as City Lights, Garden of Vegetables, or Baby on the Run that sparks recognition, a feeling, a thought, an opinion. And much more that is the pulse of human experience.

Beyond offering simple enjoyment, reading can become a lifeline to wellbeing and agency for those experiencing cognitive change.

Pictures reinforce the meaning of the prose. Pictures also give us a place to rest from the work of language processing. While text stimulates ideas and thoughts, images stimulate feelings and emotions.

At its core, reading is a miracle of the mind. Our eyes scan written symbols, our brains decode them into words, and almost instantly, we are transported into thoughts, stories, and worlds that are a mix of our own experiences and what’s on the page. Reading offers us a tool to live well with dementia and to slow down the progression of cognitive change.

A common question is whether people living with dementia benefit more from reading literature on a screen or on paper. The answer depends on the individual and their specific circumstances. Both formats have their strengths and challenges. Learn more in this article exploring some benefits and challenges with each medium.

The physical construct of reading materials can, in many cases, determine the readability and accessibility of the written word for people living with neurocognitive disorders.  Unfortunately, for individuals with arthritis, manual tremors, or reduced dexterity, most books are too heavy and too cumbersome. 

For individuals living with neurocognitive disorders, the appearance of text plays a crucial role in how easily it can be read and understood. This post explores three key elements of text presentation that directly impact accessibility.

For people living with neurocognitive disorders, one of the biggest barriers to reading is the sentence itself—particularly when it is long or complex. At first glance, sentences may seem like small, simple units of information. But in truth, they demand a lot from the brain.

A book that moves us along like a stream is prized especially for people living with dementia.

When we read, we become absorbed in a topic. It lets us step outside of ourselves for a while. This can be a relief from the stresses each of us puts on ourselves.