In accordance with a recent study by scientists at University College London (UCL), engaging regularly in artistic pursuits—such as reading, listening to music, or visiting a gallery or museum—may slow down the rate of biological aging.*
The investigation, which was detailed in the journal Innovation in Aging, involved examining survey information and blood test results from 3,556 UK adults. Researchers contrasted participants’ involvement in arts and culture with the chemical modifications occurring in their DNA that influence biological aging without altering the genetic sequence itself.
The research team determined that individuals who participated in arts and culture more frequently and across a broader range of activities exhibited a deceleration in aging rates, resulting in a younger biological age, as reflected by shifts in their DNA.
The observed effects were comparable to those documented for physical exercise. For instance, subjects engaging in artistic activities at least weekly aged 4% more slowly than those who rarely participated in the arts. This finding mirrored comparisons between those who exercised once weekly versus those who abstained from exercise entirely.
This connection was more pronounced among middle-aged and older adults (aged 40 and above) and remained significant even after controlling for confounding variables such as BMI, smoking status, educational attainment, and income.
“These findings highlight the impact of arts on health at a biological level. They furnish evidence that engagement with arts and culture should be considered a health-promoting behavior, akin to physical exercise,” stated study co-author Professor Daisy Fancourt (UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care). “Our research also suggests that participating in a variety of artistic activities might be beneficial. This could be because each activity possesses distinct ‘ingredients’ contributing to health, such as physical, cognitive, emotional, or social stimulation.”
“Our study is the first to offer proof that participation in arts and culture is linked to a slower pace of biological aging. This bolsters the growing body of evidence on the health benefits of the arts, as artistic engagement has already been shown to reduce stress, decrease inflammation, and improve cardiovascular health, similar to exercise,” added co-author Feifei Bu (UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care).
The researchers utilized data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, which serves as a nationally representative sample, including blood samples analyzed to gauge biological age and aging velocity.
This assessment was conducted using seven epigenetic clocks—tests that examine age-related alterations in DNA (DNA methylation). Each of the seven clocks measured methylation (the site where a methyl molecule attaches to a nucleotide) at different genomic locations.
Two of the most advanced measures of aging speed, DunedinPoAm and DunedinPACE, estimate aging rates, with a faster rate linked to a higher susceptibility to age-related diseases. Both the frequency and diversity of engagement in arts and physical activity were associated with slower aging according to these metrics.
Based on the DunedinPACE measure, engaging in artistic events at least three times annually was associated with a 2% slowing of aging; monthly participation correlated with a 3% slowdown, and weekly activity with a 4% slowdown, compared to those participating in the arts fewer than three times per year.
This variance in aging pace is comparable to differences previously observed in studies comparing current smokers to former smokers.
In a separate analysis using PhenoAge, which assesses biological age, individuals who participated in arts and culture at least weekly appeared, on average, one year younger than those who did so infrequently. Those exercising weekly registered, on average, slightly over six months younger.
Other, older epigenetic clocks examined in the study did not reveal any associated benefits for either arts/culture participation or physical activity. The team noted this is consistent with prior research that failed to find a connection between biological age measured by these specific clocks and measures of physical performance, such as gait speed. The researchers speculated this might be due to these clocks being less sensitive in predicting age-related cognitive decline.
About the Author
