Can museum visits and concerts keep you young? New study says yes

A new study suggests that cultural activities such as visiting museums, attending concerts and going to the cinema may do more than entertain. Researchers found these experiences could be associated with slower biological ageing and better overall health in older adults.Regular museum visits and concerts may be linked to slower biological ageing, study says. (Photo: Pexels)Growing older is inevitable, but how quickly the body ages may depend on more than diet and exercise. A new study suggests that regularly visiting museums, going to the cinema or attending concerts and theatre performances may be linked to slower biological ageing.Researchers from University College London (UCL) found that older adults who frequently engaged in cultural activities had a lower physiological age – a measure of how well the body's organs and systems function, than those who rarely or never took part in such experiences.Unlike chronological age, which is simply the number of years a person has lived, physiological age reflects how healthy and functional the body is. The findings were published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.The study analysed data collected over nearly a decade, allowing researchers to examine whether cultural engagement was associated with changes in biological ageing over time. WHAT DID THE STUDY FIND?The researchers analysed data from 4,467 adults aged 50 years and above who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. They examined how often participants visited museums and exhibitions, attended live performances such as concerts or theatre or went to the cinema.People who engaged in these activities at least once every few months had a physiological age that was, on average, 2.2 years younger than those who never participated. The association remained significant even after researchers accounted for education, income, lifestyle and existing health conditions and was still evident after four and eight years of follow-up.WHY MIGHT CULTURAL OUTINGS MATTER? According to the researchers, cultural experiences combine several factors that may contribute to healthy ageing. Visiting a museum or attending a concert often involves walking, social interaction, learning something new and emotional engagement.Researchers say these experiences may help reduce stress, combat loneliness, keep the brain engaged and encourage physical activity. Among the different activities studied, attending live performances showed the strongest association with slower physiological ageing, followed by going to the cinema and visiting museums or exhibitions.Researchers also found that the more often people participated in cultural activities, the younger their physiological age tended to be.NOT A REPLACEMENT TO HEALTHY HABITSHowever, the researchers cautioned that the findings show an association rather than a direct cause-and-effect relationship. It is possible that people who are already healthier are more likely to take part in cultural activities.The researchers said cultural engagement should not replace healthy habits such as regular exercise, a balanced diet and adequate sleep, but it may complement them as part of a healthy ageing lifestyle.- EndsPublished On: Jul 20, 2026 14:54 IST