People who regularly visit museums, theaters, concerts, and movie theaters may be doing more than enjoying themselves. A new study suggests these cultural activities are associated with a younger physiological age, meaning the body may function more like that of a younger person.
The findings, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, add to growing evidence that staying socially and culturally active could play an important role in healthy aging.
Cultural Activities and Biological Aging
Everyone grows older, but the rate at which the body ages can vary from person to person. Physiological age reflects how well the body is functioning and may differ from chronological age, which is simply the number of years someone has lived.
Previous research has linked cultural activities, such as going to the movies, museums, and live performances, with better health and well-being in older adults. However, relatively few studies have explored whether these activities are connected to physiological aging itself.
