Enjoying the arts ‘has same effect on ageing as a weekly workout’

Scientists have tried all sorts of ways to help us stay youthful — but it could be artists who hold the key.

Immersing yourself regularly in culture may slow down the ageing process as much as an extra weekly workout, a study has found.

Those who engaged in artistic pursuits — whether by taking part, or taking them in — at least once a week were on average a year younger in terms of general health than those who rarely did so, researchers said.

The former group appeared to age up to 4 per cent more slowly than the latter according to the study, which compared the difference to that between those who exercised once a week and those who did none.

Researchers from University College London (UCL) found the benefit was particularly strong among those aged over 40. They concluded: “Those who engaged in arts and cultural activities more frequently, and who engaged in a wider diversity of these activities, appeared to have a slower pace of ageing and a younger biological age, as suggested by changes to DNA.”