UK Study Finds Small Association Between Weekly Arts Participation and Slightly Slower Ageing Markers

People who took part in an arts activity at least once a week appeared to age around 4 percent more slowly than those who rarely engaged with them, a new study has found. The study analysing survey responses and blood test data from 3,556 adults in the UK was conducted by researchers at University College London. It was published in the journal Innovation in Aging.

Euronews reported that people who engaged more often in arts and cultural activities and who took part in a wider variety of them appeared to have a slower pace of ageing and a younger biological age. The difference in ageing pace between weekly arts participants and rare participants was similar to the difference seen between people who exercised weekly and those who did not exercise.

For the DunedinPACE clock, taking part in an arts activity at least three times a year was associated with ageing 2 percent more slowly compared with those engaging less than three times a year.

Monthly engagement was linked to 3 percent slower ageing and weekly activity to 4 percent slower ageing on the same clock. In the PhenoAge test, people who took part in arts and cultural activities weekly were biologically around one year younger on average than those who rarely engaged. By comparison, people who exercised weekly were found to be just over half a year younger on average.

The UCL researchers studied seven different epigenetic clocks. Two of the newest clocks, DunedinPoAm and DunedinPACE, estimate the pace of ageing. The results were strongest among adults aged 40 and over.

They remained even after accounting for factors such as BMI, smoking, education and income. " Bu added that arts activities have been shown to reduce stress, lower inflammation and improve cardiovascular disease risk, just as exercise is known to do.

" Lead author Daisy Fancourt said the findings suggest arts engagement could be considered alongside other lifestyle factors in future health research.

Fancourt added that engaging in a variety of arts activities may be helpful because each activity has different ingredients that help health, such as physical, cognitive, emotional or social stimulation.