A trip to the theater, museum or art gallery could help you live longer. And the more often you get that culture fix the better, a new study suggests.
Researchers from University College London (UCL) found that people who engaged in the arts more frequently -- every few months or more -- had a 31% lower risk of dying early when compared to those who didn't. Even going to the theater or museum once or twice a year was linked with a 14% lower risk.
They looked at data given by more than 6,000 adults in England age 50 years and older, who were taking part in a wider study on aging.
How often an individual engaged in art activities, which also included exhibitions, concerts and opera but not cinema, was measured at the start of the study in 2004 to 2005. Participants were then followed up for an average of 12 years, during which time deaths were recorded using data from the UK's National Health Service (NHS.)
Why?
The study looked at a range of economic, health and social factors to try and explain why there is a link between "arts engagement" and living longer, although as an observational study it can't establish cause. Part of the reason, the study said, comes down to social and economic differences among those who go and don't go to museums, exhibitions and art galleries.
Wealth, they found, explained about 9% of the association. Cognitive differences, social and civic engagement, mental health, mobility and disability and deprivation also played a role. Things like free time and occupational status made no material difference, said Fancourt.
"Part of the association is attributable to differences in socioeconomic status among those who do and do not engage in the arts, which aligns with research that suggests engagement in cultural activities is socially patterned," the study said.
However, said Fancourt, "over half the association is independent of all the factors we identified that could explain the link."
She said that engaging with the arts can act as a buffer against stress and build creativity that allows people to adapt to changing circumstances. It also helps people build social capital -- accessing emotional support and information that helps people age more successfully.
"We also thought that a greater sense of purpose could play a role," she said. "If this (study) is added to the larger body of evidence, we are getting an increasingly rich picture on how arts can benefit health and it's not about one single outcome. It can have wide ranging benefits and support healthier lives lived longer."
How do you fall in love with art?
"Clinicians who read the paper might recognize the value of the arts, but will also wonder how engagement with culture and the arts could influence longevity," the editorial said.
"There is already much published work about the positive neurophysiological changes induced by activities, including the arts, which enable 'deep play' or 'flow.' However, as the authors note, further research is needed into the possible mechanisms that link cultural engagement with longer life."
Originally posted here:
Visit museums or art galleries and you may live longer, new research suggests - CNN
- Longevity researcher shares secrets of the worlds blue zones - Fox News - March 19th, 2025
- Kyrgyzstan on the Threshold of an Aging Population: Government Develops Active Longevity Program - Times of Central Asia - March 19th, 2025
- Longevity dividend - Association of Health Care Journalists - March 19th, 2025
- Longevity: The cosmetics industry must rethink its approach to ageing - Premium beauty - March 19th, 2025
- Implantable biosensors get major longevity boost with coating technology that inhibits biofouling - Phys.org - March 19th, 2025
- Longevity vs. Metabolism: How Birds Cheat the Aging Process - SciTechDaily - March 19th, 2025
- Bon appetit, Cristiano Ronaldo! 'Unusual' dish behind 40-year-old's remarkable longevity - and where it can be bought - revealed - Goal.com - March 19th, 2025
- Secrets of the Greenland Sharks Longevity Revealed in New Study - The Brighter Side of News - March 19th, 2025
- Anthony Michael Hall Says Longevity Was Always His Goal As The Breakfast Club And Weird Science Turn 40 - Decider - March 19th, 2025
- LB Elandon Roberts' words on NFL longevity will have Raiders fans very excited to have him - Raiders Wire - March 19th, 2025
- Studies Undoubtedly Show This Vitamin Is Linked To LongevityHere's Why - mindbodygreen - March 19th, 2025
- 'Helps slow down ageing': Nutritionist names longevity foods that improve 'heart health and brain function' - GB News - March 19th, 2025
- Men With High-Quality Sperm May Have a Longer Life Expectancy - Everyday Health - March 19th, 2025
- Dr. Vonda Wright Shares the Longevity Habits Youre Not Thinking About (and That You Can Start Doing Today) - Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper - March 19th, 2025
- 99-Year-Old Dick Van Dyke Eats This Surprising Food Combo Every Day - Taste of Home - March 19th, 2025
- Climbing This Many Stairs A Week May Lead To A Longer Life - HuffPost UK - March 19th, 2025
- How to live longer: Supercentenarian who lived to 117 ate her go-to snack 3 times a day - GB News - March 19th, 2025
- Saudi Arabia Expands Regulatory Role To Shape The Future Of Health And Longevity - Citeline News & Insights - March 19th, 2025
- Crypto fans are obsessed with longevity and biohacking: Heres why - Cointelegraph - March 19th, 2025
- Unlocking the power of sleep: Longevity expert Dr Elie Abirached tells us how - Gulf Business - March 19th, 2025
- MST3K: Jonah Ray on Longevity, Evolution from Netflix to the Gizmoplex - Bleeding Cool News - November 27th, 2024
- Why Personal Health and Wellness Are Key to Business Longevity - Entrepreneur - November 27th, 2024
- How to live longer: 'I'm a doctor - adding two foods to your diet is the key to longevity' - GB News - November 27th, 2024
- The Best Talks of GSA 2024 - Lifespan.io News - November 27th, 2024
- Maren Tschinkel Shares Her 11 Healthy and Happy Habits - Bustle - November 27th, 2024
- Do blue zones, supposed havens of longevity, rest on shaky science? - Science - November 27th, 2024
- 2025 Longevity and Harmony coins recognize symbolism of birds - Coin World - November 27th, 2024
- The Hormonal Blueprint For Longevity And The Science Of Youthfulness - Forbes - November 27th, 2024
- How Has Life Expectancy Changed Throughout History? - Verywell Health - November 27th, 2024
- The key to a long life is avoiding the 'poisonous 5 P's,' says one of the world's top anti-aging experts - Fortune - November 27th, 2024
- Study unveils genetic secrets to longevity in Indian population - The Times of India - November 27th, 2024
- The Long Run: Behind The Song That Predicted Eagles Longevity - Dig! - November 27th, 2024
- Daily Walks Could Add More Than 10 Years to Your Life, New Study Says - Real Simple - November 27th, 2024
- The 5 best supplements for healthy aging, according to a longevity expert - Yahoo Finance - November 27th, 2024
- Longevity Burn-In Test: Updates And Results From 100 TVs - RTINGS.com - November 27th, 2024
- A 90-year-old comedian still does gigs and plays golf. She shared her secrets for staying fit and funny. - Business Insider - November 27th, 2024
- Longevity and Anti-senescence Therapy Global Market is set to reach $36.11 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 6.4% - EIN News - November 27th, 2024
- Steinberg Hopes that the Runners Club Can Put Chatham on Course to 'Blue Zone' Longevity Status as Part of Mayor's Wellness - TAPinto.net - November 27th, 2024
- Why Brits are keen to go on wellness getaways for longevity in 2025 - Yahoo Lifestyle UK - November 27th, 2024
- 3 ancient foods are the staple of this blue zones longevity diet - Fortune - November 3rd, 2024
- The Fall Fruit Longevity Experts Swear By - Vogue - November 3rd, 2024
- 6 Foods Centenarians Almost Never Eat (and You Shouldn't Either), According to Longevity Experts - Real Simple - November 3rd, 2024
- According To Longevity Experts, This Is The Breakfast You Should Be Eating For A Long Life - Yahoo Life - November 3rd, 2024
- 33-year-old who left the U.S. to live minutes from the ocean in Jamaica: 'I feel like I have a better chance of longevity here' - CNBC - November 3rd, 2024
- The Secret to Longevity? Community. - LVHN News - November 3rd, 2024
- The Real-Life Diet of Longevity Doctor Valter Longo, Who Wants You to Finish Eating Well Before Bedtime - GQ - November 3rd, 2024
- At 80, Jazzercise's founder is thriving. She credits lean protein, weightlifting, and treating herself to a daily Dr Pepper. - Business Insider - November 3rd, 2024
- New Computational Method Links One Mammals Striking Longevity and Resistance to Cancer With Dark Genome - Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center - November 3rd, 2024
- Anti-aging enthusiasts are turning to the drug rapamycin to help extend their livescan it work? A longevity doctor weighs in - CNBC - November 3rd, 2024
- There's 1 Massive Health Benefit Of Travel That We Don't Talk About Enough - HuffPost - November 3rd, 2024
- The Northwestern Lab Trying to Extend Your Life - Chicagomag.com - November 3rd, 2024
- Human Touch Reflects on the Catalyst and Future of the Longevity Boom - Athletech News - November 3rd, 2024
- Fountain Life Develops "Zora AI," the World's First Generative AI Platform Specially Trained in Functional and Longevity Medicine - PR... - November 3rd, 2024
- Cancer patients who stop smoking within the first six months of diagnosis see improved longevity, study finds - Medical Xpress - November 3rd, 2024
- The 80-year-old billionaire Larry Ellison wins plaudits for looking 30 years younger, with the longevity fanatic Bryan Johnson weighing in - AOL - November 3rd, 2024
- Brewing longevity: Reassessing the health impact of coffee - Genetic Literacy Project - November 3rd, 2024
- Heres Why People in Blue Zones Live the Longest, According to Longevity Experts - Real Simple - November 3rd, 2024
- Before trying expensive longevity treatments, focus on these 4 basics of living longer first - Business Insider - October 6th, 2024
- She loved beer and ice cream and lived to 97. Does lifestyle really matter to longevity? - CNN - October 6th, 2024
- Scientists are testing a keto cocktail for longevity and vigor without the high-fat diet - Business Insider - October 6th, 2024
- 5 Things Longevity Researchers Do Every Day to Live Longer and Healthier - Health.com - October 6th, 2024
- Scientists Have Discovered a Dietary Compound That Increases Longevity - SciTechDaily - October 6th, 2024
- The longevity method: inside the wellness retreat that wants you to live better for longer - Harper's Bazaar UK - October 6th, 2024
- Eight-time Olympic champion Isabell Werth on her longevity, success secrets, and impromptu sing-along during Paris 2024 competition - Olympics - October 6th, 2024
- Want to Live a Longer, Healthier, More Meaningful Life? Science Says People With Greater Resilience Enjoy Exceptional Longevity - Inc. - October 6th, 2024
- Longevity in Action: The 91-Year-Old Weaver Redefining Aging - JAPAN Forward - October 6th, 2024
- A 64-year-old who swam the earth's circumference shares his longevity tips - The Caledonian-Record - October 6th, 2024
- Jimmy Carters longevity compared to other U.S. presidents - FlowingData - October 6th, 2024
- The 'Healthy' Habit That's Taking Years Off Your Life, According to Longevity Experts - Parade Magazine - October 6th, 2024
- Common food ingredient that promotes longevity found by scientists - The Times of India - October 6th, 2024
- Maryland Department Of Aging Launches Longevity Ready Maryland Work Groups - pasadenavoice.com - October 6th, 2024
- If You Want To Live A Long Healthy Life, Experts Say You Should Avoid Doing These 6 Things - BuzzFeed - October 6th, 2024
- Aging is the inflation of life. An emerging crop of longevity biotech companies needs investment to beat it - Fortune - September 13th, 2024
- On this island in Italy, people often live to 100here are 4 of their key habits for a long, happy life - CNBC - September 13th, 2024
- This 5-second walking test can tell you how well you're aging - Business Insider - September 13th, 2024
- Maxwell Sociologists Receive $3.8M to Research Health and Longevity - Syracuse University News - September 13th, 2024
- How Long Do You Expect to Live? It Pays to Make an Educated Guess. - MSN - September 13th, 2024
- Want to live for longer? These are hands down the best workouts for boosting longevity, according to top trainers - Marie Claire UK - September 13th, 2024
- Unlocking the Power of Healthy Longevity: Demographic Change, Non-communicable Diseases, and Human Capital - World Bank Group - September 13th, 2024
- Growth vs Profitability: The key to startup longevity - Moneycontrol - September 13th, 2024