The research behind Cognitive Books
Thanks to our gerontological insights, our relationships with dementia experts and our collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society – the UK’s leading dementia charity – Cognitive Books has a deep understanding of the barriers preventing people with dementia from reading.
“Most people with dementia can read but there are few books designed specifically for them. Cognitive Books are written for the needs of people with dementia. They have the potential to give pleasure and may help improve social functioning.”
There’s no doubt that many people with dementia are capable of reading and have the desire to read. But Cognitive Books’ research into the reading habits of people living with dementia shows that more than 60% of respondents stop reading or read less after the onset of dementia.
The main barriers to reading are cognitive, such as the complexity of the story, but also its length and the interest level of the subject. Our research also demonstrates physical barriers, such as reading smaller print and reduction in fine motor skills such as turning pages.
Cognitive Books overcomes these barriers by designing and publishing books that provide:
Engaging stories, exploring familiar themes using techniques from Reminiscence Therapy
Text presented in easy-to-read chunks so that the reader can enjoy just one page, or many pages collectively
A free audio version to enhance the reading experience and share with loved ones
A hardback book in large text, accessible colours, easy to turn pages and beautiful illustrations
Additional exercises at the end of the book based on Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
Read our full research report all about the reading habits of people living with dementia.
In addition to responding to the research above, we also tested the desirable features of a Cognitive Book and all our publications include:
A donation to Alzheimer’s Society, so by buying the book you are also supporting further dementia research
A free audio version for additional ways to enjoy the book
Printing and production in Europe rather than China
A recommended retail price that is based on market research
Read our full market research report that explores the key features in detail.