The obvious answer to what keeps us young longer is healthy food or good exercise, but that a museum visit, a concert, or an art gallery can do the same will come as a surprise.
Researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo tracked 1,899 adults aged 50 and older using ELSA data from 2004 to 2009, measuring physiological age through ten health markers like blood pressure, cholesterol, grip strength and blood sugar. Participants also reported how often they attended cinema, museums, or theater/concerts, giving each a cultural engagement score from 0 to 15.
People who attended concerts, museum trips, or the opera had a physiological age of 66.9, whereas individuals who didn’t had one of 69.9.
This study adds a third pillar to good health: connection. Leaving the house, connecting with other people, and breaking routine. Other research has linked loneliness to an increase in mortality rates and earlier cognitive impairment. Staying around people is not just a lifestyle bonus, but a biological input.
Doctors in the West have already started to prescribe socializing as medicine, the ‘CultureRx’ and ‘Arts on Prescription’ models.
We are meant to socialize, not just through social media scrolling but in reality, with people. Luckily, in our culture we have festivals, which bring us together for a reason to connect. So the next time you’re indulging in a social event, a day with your friend, it isn’t just a day spent, but an extra day added to your life.
If diet and exercise have earned their place in every health routine, isn’t it time we made room for connection too?
MBH/PS