Engaging with arts and culture slows biological aging as much as physical activity does, according to a study published Monday in the journal Innovation in Ageing. Researchers from University College London analyzed data from seven different aging clocks measuring biomarkers in more than 3,500 people from the United Kingdom.
The study found that both the frequency of arts engagement and the diversity of cultural activities matter. According to the research, there were “comparable effect sizes” between physical activity and engagement with the arts. The findings were generally stronger amongst middle-aged and older adults aged 40 or above, and the data was controlled for income and other factors. Study co-author Feifei Bu, a research fellow in UCL’s department of behavioral science, explained that arts activities cover a wide range with different “active ingredients,” including aesthetics, sensory or physical stimulation, and social interaction.
Previous studies have demonstrated links between cultural engagement and better health outcomes in cognition, depression, and mortality, but this is the first to examine biological aging. Bu noted that the study builds on existing research, “underscoring the potential value of integrating the arts into public health strategies and initiatives.”
James Stark, a professor of medical humanities at the University of Leeds not involved in the study, called the research “detailed and robust,” noting it “draws on cutting-edge tools for measuring biological ageing and uses a large swathe of real-world data.” He emphasized the research “validates the importance of investment in the arts and culture, and shows that these are not just incidental additions to our lives, but make a real difference to our health.”
Eamonn Mallon, professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Leicester, flagged a caveat: the research is “a single snapshot in time, so we can’t yet say that visiting a museum causes you to age more slowly. It’s possible that people who are biologically younger for their chronological age are simply more likely to get out and do things.”
Next, the research team plans to analyze similar data across different countries and populations, and examine how other biological outcomes could be affected by cultural engagement.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://ktvz.com/health/cnn-health/2026/05/14/engaging-with-arts-and-culture-can-slow-biological-aging-as-much-as-exercise-study-suggests/