title: [Reading as a protective factor against cognitive decline].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether reading is a protective factor against cognitive decline in the population aged over 65 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an unmatched case-control study in the Fuente de San Luis Health Center in Valencia, Spain. A total of 153 subjects aged more than 65 years old were studied, corresponding to 51 cases and 102 controls. Cognitive impairment was measured by the version of the Mini-Mental State Examination adapted and validated to Spanish. Reading habits were assessed with the scale of the Federación de Gremios y Editores de España.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Logistic regression showed a significant association with the habit of frequent reading for more than 5 years, complete primary school education, and age lower than 75 years
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reading is a protective factor against cognitive impairment. This protection is greater in frequent readers with a history of reading of over 5 years.
authors: Agencia Valenciana de Salud, Centro de Salud Padre Jofré, Valencia, España. mglesteve@hotmail.com
authors: Miguel Esteve
authors: ME
authors: Esteve
authors: Angel Collado
authors: AC
authors: Gil
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011932:Reading