A study "...published online today in Neurology, suggest that reading books, writing and engaging in other similar brain-stimulating activities slows down cognitive decline in old age, independent of common age-related neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, people who participated in mentally stimulating activities over their lifetimes, both in young, middle and old age, had a slower rate of decline in memory and other mental capacities than those who did not."

Read more: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/07/being-a-lifelong-bookworm-may-keep-you-sharp-in-old-age/#ixzz2bJ3xdXKb

Other studies have shown that being bilingual is also strongly correlated with mental acuity in old age.

As a person with a lifelong love of reading (everything from the backs of cereal boxes to Shakespeare) and an addiction to crossword puzzles (especially in the Sunday Times), I find this reassuring.

Long life and maintenance of intellectual faculties to you all! Would life be worth living if your mind went into decline? Would you want to live a life without books and conversation and memories?

You know my answer.