Engaging with arts and culture can slow biological aging as much as exercise, study suggests
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- A University College London study found that engaging with arts and culture slows biological aging as effectively as physical activity, based on data from over 3,500 UK participants analyzed through seven aging clocks.
- The study showed that both the frequency and variety of arts engagement contribute to slowing the aging process, with stronger effects observed in individuals aged 40 and above, independent of income and other factors.
- Researchers suggest that arts activities influence health through biological processes involving aesthetics, sensory stimulation, and social interaction, supporting the integration of arts into public health strategies.
- Experts not involved in the study praised its robust methodology and real-world data use, emphasizing that cultural participation has tangible health benefits comparable to physical exercise.
- However, some caution that the findings are correlational, as it remains unclear whether arts engagement directly causes slower aging or if biologically younger individuals are more likely to participate in such activities.