Regular participation in arts and cultural activities such as reading, listening to music, or visiting museums and galleries may help slow the pace of biological ageing, according to a new study by researchers at University College London. Published in the journal Innovation in Aging, the study analysed survey responses and blood samples from 3,556 adults in the UK to examine how arts engagement relates to biological ageing.
Researchers found that people who participated more frequently in arts and cultural activities, and who engaged in a wider range of activities, appeared to have a slower pace of ageing and a younger biological age. These findings were based on chemical changes to DNA known as DNA methylation, which can influence how the body ages without changing a person’s genetic code.
The apparent benefits of arts engagement were similar to those associated with physical activity. People who took part in arts activities at least once a week appeared to age 4% more slowly than those who rarely engaged, a difference comparable to that seen between people who exercised weekly and those who did not exercise at all. The associations were particularly strong among adults aged 40 and older and remained significant after accounting for factors such as smoking, BMI, income, and education.
Lead author Daisy Fancourt said the findings provide biological evidence that arts and cultural engagement can support health in ways similar to exercise. She added that participating in a variety of activities may be especially beneficial because different forms of art may offer physical, cognitive, emotional, and social stimulation.
Senior author Feifei Bu noted that the study adds to growing evidence linking the arts to improved health outcomes, including reduced stress, lower inflammation, and better cardiovascular health. The researchers used seven “epigenetic clocks” to estimate biological age and pace of ageing by examining age-related DNA changes. The newest tools, DunedinPoAm and DunedinPACE, were the most sensitive in detecting links between arts engagement and slower ageing.
Using the DunedinPACE measure, engaging in arts activities at least three times a year was linked to 2% slower ageing, monthly participation to 3% slower ageing, and weekly participation to 4% slower ageing compared to infrequent engagement. Another measure, PhenoAge, found that people who participated in arts and cultural activities weekly were biologically about one year younger on average than those who rarely engaged. Older epigenetic measures did not detect similar associations, which researchers suggested may reflect their lower sensitivity to age-related decline.
More information: Daisy Fancourt et al, Does leisure activity matter for epigenetic aging? Analyses of arts engagement and physical activity in the UK Household Longitudinal Study, Innovation in Aging. DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igag038
Journal information: Innovation in Aging Provided by University College London
