Many people already know that exercise, healthy eating, and good sleep can help them stay healthier as they grow older.
But scientists are now finding that another simple habit may also help slow down aging: enjoying the arts.
A new study from researchers at University College London suggests that regularly taking part in arts and cultural activities may help people stay biologically younger for longer.
The researchers found that activities such as reading books, listening to music, attending concerts, visiting museums, or going to art galleries were linked to slower biological aging.
The study was published in the journal Innovation in Aging and involved 3,556 adults living in the United Kingdom.
Scientists have long understood that aging is not only about the number of birthdays a person has had. Two people of the same age can have very different levels of physical health. One person may feel energetic and healthy, while another may struggle with disease and weakness.
Researchers often describe this difference as “biological age.” Biological age measures how old the body appears to be internally, based on changes happening inside cells and tissues.
In the new study, scientists examined blood samples from participants and looked at chemical changes in DNA called DNA methylation. These changes do not alter the genes themselves, but they can influence how genes work and may provide clues about how quickly the body is aging.
Researchers used several advanced “epigenetic clocks,” which are scientific tools designed to estimate biological age and pace of aging by studying these DNA changes.
The team then compared the biological aging measurements with how often people took part in arts and cultural activities.
The results were surprising.
People who participated in arts activities more often appeared to age more slowly than those who rarely engaged in the arts. The benefits were strongest among middle-aged and older adults over age 40.
The researchers found that people who took part in arts activities at least once a week appeared to age around 4% more slowly compared to those who rarely participated.
Interestingly, this benefit was similar to the effects linked to regular exercise.
For example, people who exercised at least once a week also showed roughly a 4% slower pace of aging compared to people who did not exercise.
The study also found that variety mattered. People who engaged in many different types of arts activities appeared to have greater benefits than those who only participated in one activity.
Researchers believe this may happen because different arts activities stimulate the brain and body in different ways.
Reading may challenge memory and thinking skills. Music may improve mood and emotional well-being. Visiting museums or concerts may provide social interaction and mental stimulation. Some arts activities may also reduce stress and encourage relaxation.
Scientists already know that stress and chronic inflammation can contribute to faster aging and higher risk of disease. Previous research has shown that arts activities may lower stress levels, reduce inflammation, and improve heart health.
The researchers carefully adjusted their results to account for other factors that could affect aging, including smoking, weight, education, and income. Even after considering these factors, the link between arts engagement and slower aging remained strong.
One of the most important findings involved newer epigenetic clocks called DunedinPoAm and DunedinPACE. These tests are designed to estimate how quickly the body is aging.
According to the results, participating in arts activities only a few times a year was linked to about 2% slower aging. Monthly participation was linked to around 3% slower aging, while weekly arts engagement was associated with about 4% slower aging.
Researchers noted that this difference was similar to the difference previously seen between smokers and former smokers in aging studies.
Another biological age test called PhenoAge found that people who engaged in arts activities weekly appeared biologically about one year younger on average than people who rarely took part in the arts.
Interestingly, regular exercise was linked to a smaller difference of just over half a year younger on average.
However, not all aging tests showed the same results. Some older epigenetic clocks did not detect clear benefits from arts engagement or physical activity. Researchers believe these older methods may simply be less sensitive to subtle changes related to healthy aging.
Professor Daisy Fancourt, who led the study, said the findings suggest arts and cultural activities should perhaps be viewed as health-promoting behaviors in the same way society views exercise.
The researchers emphasized that this study only shows a link and does not prove that arts activities directly slow aging. It is possible that healthier people are simply more likely to participate in cultural activities.
Still, the large study size and biological measurements strengthen the findings.
Experts say future research will be needed to understand exactly how arts activities affect the body and whether certain activities provide stronger benefits than others.
Even so, the study adds to growing evidence that enjoyable daily activities may have powerful effects on long-term health.
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The research was published in Innovation in Aging.
