Frequent museum visits tied to reduced cellular aging, research finds

People who regularly visit museums or participate in creative activities may be aging more slowly on a biological level, according to a new study from theUnited Kingdom.

Researchers from University College London analyzed data from more than 3,500 adults and found that people who frequently engaged inarts and cultural activitiesshowed signs of slower biological aging in several DNA-based measurements.

The findings were published in the journal Innovation in Aging.

Read More → Massive SPLC-linked grant under fire as watchdog exposes ties to middle school programs

CREATIVE HOBBIES KEEP THE BRAIN YOUNG, STUDY FINDS — HERE ARE THE BEST ONES TO PURSUE

Read More → DIY identity protection vs paid services: What works in 2026

The study examined activities including painting, photography, dancing, singing, visiting museums and attending cultural events orhistoric sites.

People who frequently visit museums or engage in artistic activities may experience slower biological aging.(iStock)

Researchers compared participation in those activities with “epigenetic clocks,” scientific tools that examine chemical changes in DNA over time.

Adults who participated more often, and in a wider variety of activities, tended to show slower aging scores compared to people who rarely engaged in arts or cultural experiences.

ANTI-AGING BENEFITS LINKED TO ONE SURPRISING HEALTH HABIT

Read More → Chill coming from Trump’s summit with Xi is proof of a new Cold War with China

The association appeared even stronger among adults over age 40.

Researchers also noted that the effect sizes were comparable to those linked to physical activity, one of the most widely studied behaviors associated withhealthy aging.

The study found that adults who engaged more often in arts and cultural activities showed slower biological aging.(iStock)

Jessica Mack, a health and wellness expert and founder of The Functional Consulting Group who was not involved in the study, said the findings reflect a growing understanding that health is influenced by more than exercise andnutrition alone.

Experts say these activities may reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and strengthen social connections.(iStock)

“These are not ‘extra’ lifestyle activities,” Mack said.“They may be deeply connected to how the body manages inflammation,stress hormones, mood and overall resilience.”

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“So when researchers find that the people who go to museums have younger epigenetic age, we cannot tell whether the museum visitsslowed their aging, or whether their slower aging is what allowed them to keep visiting museums,” he said.

While the findings suggest a link, experts caution that the study cannot prove arts and cultural activities directly slow aging.(iStock)

Horvath said both explanations may be true to some degree, though he described the research as “methodologically careful” and worthy of further study.

The findings remained consistent even after accounting for factorssuch as smoking, income, body weight and other lifestyle habits.

onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.

Read More → NYC GOP hopeful says Mamdani ‘running city into the ground’ as taxes, crime fears fuel backlash

He added that regardless of whether arts engagement is directly slowing biological aging, staying socially and mentally active is still associated with healthier aging overall.

“The prescription is the same,” he said.“Keep going.”