Does Reading Books Increase Your IQ?

July 30, 2020

Mind Lab Pro

If you've ever wondered whether reading actually makes you smarter… science says yes, kind of…

It won’t turn you into Einstein overnight, but done right, it can rewire your brain, sharpen your thinking, and even protect your memory as you age.

Here’s how👇

How Reading Shapes a Child’s Brain

Let’s start from the beginning…

When kids are read to early on, it literally builds their brain. MRI scans show more white matter connections in language and reasoning areas in kids with higher print exposure.

A study of 652 adults found that being read to as a kid was linked to higher IQ decades later, even after accounting for family income and education.

Here’s why:

🔸 Vocabulary explodes - Books introduce words you’ll never hear in daily convo. More words = better thinking.

🔸 Abstract thinking starts forming - Following plots, understanding characters, predicting what happens next… it builds logic.

🔸 Working memory gets a workout - Keeping track of who’s who and what’s happening trains attention and short-term memory.

🔸 More reading = more learning - Kids who read more end up with stronger general knowledge and school performance, which all feed into IQ over time.

And it’s not just the amount of reading, it’s starting early that really makes the difference. The earlier the exposure, the stronger the foundation.

Reading and IQ in School Years

This is where things get really interesting…

Once kids start reading on their own, the link between reading and IQ gets stronger, and we’ve got the data to prove it.

🟧 One study followed 1,890 twin pairs aged 7–16. It found that reading ability predicted later IQ, not the other way around. In other words, reading builds intelligence, not just the other way around.

🟧 MRI studies on teens showed something wild: better readers had more gray matter growth in brain areas linked to language and reasoning. Like, their brains literally upgraded.

More findings:

🔸 Kids who read ~12 hours/week scored higher on IQ tests and had better mental health (massive 10,000+ student study in Asia).

🔸 Those who loved reading at ages 2-9 ended up with higher cognitive scores later on.

🔸 Early readers tend to stay ahead. One study tracked students from grades 1 to 12 and found that strong readers kept outpacing peers in both IQ and academic success.

It’s not magic, it’s just how the brain works... Reading challenges your brain and builds thinking skills, especially during those sponge-like school years.

What Happens in Adulthood

So, what if you didn’t grow up loving books?

Good news: it’s not too late.

In adults, reading still strengthens cognitive skills, especially reasoning, comprehension, and focus.

🔹 One meta-analysis (370,000+ people) found a solid link between fluid intelligence and reading. That’s the type of smarts you use to solve problems and think on your feet.

🔹 College students with higher print exposure had faster processing speeds and scored higher on verbal reasoning tests like the ACT.

Even in adults who struggle with reading, there’s hope:

🟧 One study gave functional illiterates 9 months of reading instruction. Result? Brain scans showed normalized connectivity, and their reading skills shot up.

The takeaway: reading works at any age. You just need the right kind of material, and a little consistency. Your brain will take care of the rest.

Reading for the future…

Turns out, reading isn’t just about getting smarter now. It protects your brain long-term.

Older adults who read regularly show slower memory decline, better focus, and reduced risk of dementia.

A huge study found that daily leisure readers had a 35% lower risk of long-term cognitive decline.

In an 8-week reading program, seniors improved both working memory and episodic memory, basically the ability to hold onto facts and personal experiences.

The secret? Cognitive reserve - the brain’s backup system. The more you read, the more neural pathways you build. So even if your brain starts aging, you’ve got extra circuits to fall back on.

And if dementia does show up later in life, readers often function better for longer.

FAQ

🔹 Does reading actually raise your IQ?
Yes, especially verbal IQ and vocabulary-based reasoning. It builds crystallized intelligence over time.

🔹 Can reading improve fluid intelligence too?
To some extent. Reading complex texts trains memory, attention, and abstract thinking, all tied to fluid intelligence.

🔹 When should you start reading to kids?
As early as possible. Studies show early reading predicts higher IQ later in life, even after adjusting for income or education.

🔹 What kind of reading boosts IQ the most?
Deep, challenging content like literary fiction, science writing, or essays. The more you think while reading, the better the brain gains.

🔹 Does reading help protect the aging brain?
Absolutely. Older adults who read daily show slower cognitive decline and lower dementia risk.

🔹 How much should you read per week?
Around 12 hours a week of focused, pleasure-driven reading seems optimal in most large studies.

🔹 Is reading on screens worse for your brain?
Kind of. Screens lead to more skimming and distraction. Paper reading boosts comprehension and attention better.

🔹 Does reading fiction help empathy or just IQ?
Both. Fiction activates brain areas tied to theory of mind and emotional intelligence.

🔹 Can reading improve reasoning or just vocabulary?
It improves both, especially if you're engaging with texts that challenge your assumptions or require interpretation.

🔹 Can you increase IQ at any age by reading?
Yes. Even adults in literacy programs show brain growth and reasoning improvements within 6 months.