Arts and cultural engagement ‘linked to slower pace of biological ageing’
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- UCL researchers found that weekly participation in arts and cultural activities slows biological ageing by 4% and monthly participation by 3%, as measured by epigenetic clocks.
- Participants who engaged in arts at least once a week were on average a year younger biologically than those who rarely engaged, while weekly exercisers were only six months younger.
- UK Household Longitudinal Study supplied blood samples and survey responses from 3,556 adults that underpinned the analysis.
- Innovation in Aging published the study’s findings.
- Prof Daisy Fancourt said arts and cultural engagement should be recognised as a health‑promoting behaviour comparable to exercise, with benefits similar to quitting smoking.
Why it matters: Older adults who regularly engage in arts age biologically 4% slower, a factor linked to lower future morbidity, meaning health systems could see reduced disease burden and lower long‑term care costs.
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