People who do this once a week age more slowly

British scientists have found that regular engagement with the arts may slow down the body’s biological ageing process.

TodayPress TV reports, citing “Well.pl”, that people who sing, dance, take photographs, visit exhibitions and museums at least once a week have shown better biological ageing indicators.

In a study co-authored by Daisy Fancourt, a professor at University College London, researchers compared the lifestyles and blood test results of 3,556 adults living in the United Kingdom. The study examined age-related chemical markers in DNA to assess participants’ biological age and rate of ageing.

The findings showed that people who engaged in artistic activities at least once a week had certain ageing-rate indicators that were several percentage points lower than those who took part in such activities only once or twice a year.

Interestingly, this difference was close to the gap observed between people who exercised regularly and those who did not. According to the results of another test, people who regularly engaged with the arts had an average biological age approximately one year younger.

Scientists explain this association through the various ways in which art can affect human health. For example, singing in a group increases social interaction, dancing provides physical activity, while drawing stimulates attention and emotions.

The researchers believe that engaging in the arts may also have a positive effect on ageing by reducing stress. Long-term stress is known to accelerate biological ageing, while previous studies have linked artistic activities to reduced inflammation.

However, the study does not prove that engaging in the arts directly slows ageing; it only identifies an association between these activities and biological ageing indicators.

Kubra Musayeva