Nearly 1,900 adults in England aged 50 or older showed lower physiological age when they engaged more often in cultural activities such as movies, museums, theater, concerts or opera.
Each 1-point rise in cultural engagement score was tied to a 0.085-year reduction in physiological age—about 31 days—after adjustments for income, chronic conditions and other factors.
Frequent attendees going to an event every few months had a physiological age of about 66.9 years, lower than people with less cultural engagement.
Researchers and outside geriatricians said cultural activities may help through cognitive stimulation and social connection, but stressed the observational study cannot prove causation because healthier people may be more able to participate.