Arts and cultural engagement ‘linked to slower pace of biological ageing’
Summary
A new study shows that participating in arts and cultural activities, like singing, painting, or visiting museums, can help people age more slowly at a biological level. The research found that regular engagement in these activities has health benefits similar to exercise, potentially keeping people biologically younger.Key Facts
- The study links arts participation and attending cultural events to slower biological ageing.
- People who engage in arts activities weekly slow their biological ageing by 4%, while monthly engagement slows it by 3%.
- Those who participated weekly were about one year biologically younger compared to those who rarely engaged in arts.
- The study used “epigenetic clocks” from blood tests to measure biological age and pace of ageing.
- Benefits of arts engagement on ageing are similar in scale to the health benefits of quitting smoking.
- The research analyzed data from 3,556 UK adults aged 40 and older.
- Activities studied included singing, dancing, painting, photography, crafting, and visiting museums or historic sites.
- Arts engagement improvements are linked to reduced stress, lower inflammation, and better heart health.
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