Here’s some good news for music lovers and museum fans. Researchers at University College in London found that people who regularly engage in arts and cultural activities may actually age more slowly.
The study looked at more than 3,500 adults and compared their hobbies with changes in their DNA tied to aging. And the results were impressive.
People who did arts activities at least once a week appeared to age 4% more slowly than people who rarely participated. Researchers say that’s comparable to the benefits of weekly exercise.
Activities included things like listening to music, reading, and going to museums.
A professor behind the study said the arts should be viewed as “a health-promoting behavior in a similar way to exercise.”