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In his role as a Trustee of the Queen’s Reading Room, the charity that works to celebrate and promote the power and benefits of reading, Aatif Hassan, Founder and Chairman of Dukes Education was honoured to attend a reception at Clarence House to reveal the results of a ground-breaking study into the link between reading fiction for pleasure and mental health. The event, hosted by Her Majesty The Queen, was attended by supporters of the Queen’s Reading Room, including Helena Bonham Carter, alumna of Dukes Education’s Hampstead Fine Arts College. The neuroscience study shows that just 5 minutes of reading fiction per day can reduce stress levels by 20%, improve concentration and focus by as much as 11% and that reading earlier in the day can help readers feel more connected to others and feel ready to tackle challenges. Reading a work of fiction can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness, important because social isolation has already been provided by neuroscientists to have a link with an increased risk of developing dementia.
https://thequeensreadingroom.co.uk/the-queens-reading-room-study/
Headliners at the 2024 Queen’s Reading Room Festival on 8th June include Helena Bonham Carter, Miriam Margolyes, Harlan Coben, Mick Herron, Sir Ian Rankin, Ann Cleeves, Lee Child, Elif Shafak, Kate Mosse and many others. Tickets are available here:
https://royalreadingroom.seetickets.com/content/ticket-options?src=TQRRMEMBERS