A team of researchers has investigated whether cultural activities may be associated with the body's biological age.
Biological age reflects how well the body functions and can differ from a person's chronological age.
The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, is based on data from 1,899 people aged 50 and over who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
According to ScienceDaily, the researchers measured participants' blood pressure, lung function, cholesterol levels, walking speed, and muscle strength.
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Cultural participation was measured
Participants were also asked how often they went to the cinema, visited museums or art galleries, or attended theatre performances, concerts, and the opera.
The researchers also accounted for factors such as income, employment, and chronic illnesses.
This made it possible to examine whether the association between cultural experiences and biological age remained after these factors were taken into account.
The body appeared younger
The results showed that people who took part in cultural activities at least once every two months had an average biological age of 66.9 years.
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Among those who rarely participated, the average biological age was 69.9 years.
The researchers believe that stronger social relationships, better mental well-being, and healthier lifestyle habits may help explain the difference.
However, they stress that the study cannot prove that cultural experiences are the cause.
It is also possible that people in better health simply find it easier to go to the cinema, visit museums, or attend concerts.
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According to ScienceDaily, further research is therefore needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
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