Regular visits to museums, theaters, and cinemas are associated with a younger physiological age among older adults, according to new research from Japan.
Researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo analyzed data from 1,899 adults aged 50 and older in England. They found that people with higher cultural engagement had an average physiological age of 66.9 years, compared to 69.9 years for those with lower participation.
The study used measurements of 10 health indicators, including blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and walking speed. Each additional point on a cultural engagement scale was linked to a 0.085-year reduction in physiological age.
Cultural activities may support social connections, mental health, and healthier habits, the authors noted. They said the impact could be comparable to frequent physical activity, though the observational research cannot prove direct causation.
The findings were published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.