Cultural outings linked to younger physiological age in older adults
A study of adults in England found regular visits to cinemas, museums and performances were tied to bodies that measured about three years younger.
By Tom Brennan · Health & Medicine Correspondent
3 min read
Older adults who regularly went to cinemas, museums, galleries and live performances had younger physiological age scores than peers who rarely took part, BMJ Group reported. The finding matters because physiological age reflects how well the body is functioning, and it may differ from a person’s age in years.
The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found an association rather than proof that cultural activities slow aging. Researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo said healthier people may be more able to attend events, so more work is needed to test whether increasing cultural participation can improve long-term health.
What the researchers studied
The team analyzed data from 1,899 adults in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, BMJ Group said. The broader study follows a nationally representative sample of adults aged 50 and older living in England.
Participants had data from at least two survey waves in 2004/2005, 2006/2007 or 2008/2009. Nurses recorded 10 health measures used to estimate physiological age: pulse pressure, diastolic blood pressure, forced expiratory volume, hemoglobin concentration, fibrinogen, glycated hemoglobin, LDL cholesterol, body mass index, grip strength and walking speed.
The study also measured cultural engagement through participants’ reports of how often they went to three types of activities: the cinema; a museum or art gallery; and a theater, concert or opera. Each category was scored from 0 for never to 5 for twice a month or more, producing a total score from 0 to 15.
A three-year gap in average physiological age
BMJ Group reported that participants with higher cultural engagement, defined as taking part at least every few months, had an average physiological age of 66.9 years. Those with lower engagement had an average physiological age of 69.9 years.
The study found that people with higher cultural engagement were more likely to be women, to have higher socioeconomic status, to be employed and to have better overall health. After adjusting for household income, employment and chronic health conditions, the researchers found that each one-point increase in the cultural engagement score was linked to a 0.085-year reduction in physiological age, equal to about 31 days.
Researchers Yusuke Matsuyama, Sakura Kiuchi and Jun Aida described the work as the first longitudinal study to examine cultural engagement and physiological aging while accounting for unmeasured factors that remain stable over time, BMJ Group reported.
Possible explanations and limits
The researchers said cultural activities may help through stronger social ties, better mental health and healthier habits. They also wrote that the effect could be comparable to frequent physical activity, BMJ Group reported.
Because the research was observational, the authors could not say that museum visits, films or performances caused the lower physiological age scores. They also noted the possibility of reverse causation, in which people in better health are more likely to leave home and attend events.
The authors said cultural engagement is a behavior that can be changed and could have public health value if further research supports a causal effect. They also said making cultural events easier to reach and more affordable could widen participation.
This story draws on original reporting from ScienceDaily.