A book, a gallery, a slower clock: cultural lives link to a year of younger biology

People who regularly read, listen to music or visit galleries may be aging a little more slowly on the inside. A University College London team led by Professor Daisy Fancourt studied 3,556 adults, estimating biological age — how old the body's cells actually are — from patterns in their blood. Compared with people who took part in no cultural activities, those who did so weekly had a pace of aging about 4% slower and a biological age roughly one year younger; the link was strongest in people over 40 and held after accounting for income, education, smoking and weight. A companion finding from Rush University in Chicago followed 1,939 older adults: the most lifelong readers and writers had up to a 38% lower risk of Alzheimer's dementia, with onset delayed by about five years. Both studies show links, not proof — but they suggest the library card and the museum ticket may be quietly doing health work too.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being