The study is based on data from 1,899 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), which has been tracking the health of people in England over the age of 50 for many years. Unlike many previous studies, the researchers assessed objective medical indicators—rather than the participants’ self-reported well-being—to calculate their biological age.
The analysis included ten biomarkers reflecting the condition of the body’s cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems. These included blood pressure, lung function, hemoglobin and glycated hemoglobin levels, fibrinogen and cholesterol concentrations, body mass index, handgrip strength, and walking speed. Based on these data, an integrated indicator of biological age was calculated.
The researchers then compared the medical results with the frequency of attendance at cultural events—such as movie theaters, museums, theaters, concerts, and the opera. It turned out that people who attended such events at least once every few months had, on average, a biological age nearly three years younger than their peers who participated very little in cultural life.
Statistical analysis also showed that a one-point increase in cultural activity corresponded to a reduction in biological age of approximately 0.085 years, or about 31 days. This correlation remained after adjusting the results for income, education, employment, and the presence of chronic diseases.
The researchers emphasize that the study is observational in nature and does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. It is possible that people in better health are more likely to attend theaters, museums, and other cultural events in the first place.
Nevertheless, the authors believe that expanding access to cultural life could be one component of a healthy aging policy. In their view, reducing financial and geographic barriers to visiting cultural institutions can benefit society; however, further research is needed to confirm a causal relationship between cultural engagement and the rate of biological aging.
