Engaging in cultural activities such as attending the theater, concerts, museums, or art galleries may help slow down biological aging, new research indicates. A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that older adults who regularly participated in these activities showed significantly younger physiological ages compared to those with lower engagement.
Researchers from the Institute of Science Tokyo analyzed data from 1,899 adults aged 50 and older in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. They combined various physical health measurements, including blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), grip strength, and walking speed, to determine a physiological age for each participant. The findings revealed that individuals who attended cultural events every few months had an average biological age of 66.9 years, while those with less frequent participation were, on average, 69.9 years old.
Biological age, which reflects how cells and organs age, can be influenced by factors such as genetics, sleep, stress, diet, and environmental exposures, unlike chronological age. The study suggests that cultural activities might contribute to slower physiological aging by strengthening social connections, encouraging healthier lifestyle habits, and supporting better mental health. Strong social connections, in particular, are noted as key predictors of a long and healthy life.
This research aligns with previous studies. Another study involving 3,500 UK adults indicated that weekly participation in cultural activities like visiting art museums or engaging in creative hobbies such as singing, dancing, drawing, and painting was associated with slower signs of aging. Monthly participation in these activities was linked to aging 3% slower, while weekly engagement correlated with a 4% slower aging rate compared to individuals who participated fewer than three times a year.
That study also suggested that a variety of arts and cultural activities might be more beneficial than repeatedly engaging in the same hobby. The researchers noted, however, that healthier individuals might be more likely to attend cultural events, suggesting a potential correlation rather than a direct causal link in some cases. Nevertheless, the overall evidence points to a positive impact of cultural engagement on biological age as individuals get older. The strongest effects observed in the research were comparable to those associated with frequent exercise, particularly for individuals who participated regularly.