Engaging In This Beloved Activity May Actually Slow Biological Aging, Study Suggests

Key Points:

• A study published in the Innovation of Aging journal found that engaging in arts and cultural activities may slow biological aging in older adults, with effects comparable to physical exercise.
• Researchers analyzed data from over 3,500 UK adults, measuring participation in activities such as singing, painting, attending exhibitions, and visiting heritage sites, linking diverse and frequent engagement to slower aging rates.
• Biological age was assessed through blood samples, revealing that regular arts engagement was associated with a 4% slower aging rate, equating to being about one year biologically younger.
• The study’s findings were more pronounced in adults aged 40 and above, though limitations include self-reported activity levels and the possibility that biologically younger individuals are more active overall.
• Experts highlight that arts engagement reduces stress and inflammation and may improve cardiovascular health, supporting broader evidence that mentally stimulating hobbies benefit cognitive health and may lower dementia risk.