Could Art Help Slow Biological Aging?

Painting A Picture: Your friend who always has to stop and stare at every single piece when you’re visiting an art museum may be onto something. A new study from University College London suggests that regularly engaging with arts and culture could actually slow down the pace of biological aging. Researchers even found effects comparable to what exercise does for the body.

The Study: Researchers analyzed blood test and survey data from 3,556 adults in the UK, comparing arts engagement with DNA changes that influence biological aging. People who did an arts activity at least weekly appeared to age about 4% more slowly than those who rarely participated. That’s the same effect seen in people who exercised once a week compared to those who did no exercise at all.

The Takeaway: Protecting time for creative and cultural activities may do real things for the body, not just the soul. The researchers also found that variety matters, so mixing up the types of activities someone engages in seems to amplify the benefit. (We’ve actually been goofing around with these kits in addition to personal writing and crocheting.)

Keep in Mind: The researchers controlled for factors like income and education level, and the links still held up, though the study found an association rather than proven cause and effect.