Exploring the health benefits of reading

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Special to The PREVIEW

It can be hard for some people to pick up a book when there are so many distractions at the ready. But while books might not be as flashy as the latest must-have gadget, they can provide benefits that might surprise even the most avid readers.

In addition to the intellectual benefits of reading, indulging in a good book can also boost physical health.

According to Ken Pugh, Ph.D., president and director of research at Haskins Laboratories, which is devoted to the science of language, when a person is reading “parts of the brain that have evolved for other functions connect in a specific neural circuit for reading, which is very challenging.”

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