Do you frequent museums, art galleries or music concerts? If yes, then you may live longer than your friends who don’t like the idea of spending time around history, culture and art.
A research carried out by University College London (UCL) and published in The British Medical Journal (BMJ) suggests that those who engage in art-related activities and visit theatre, concerts, museums, art galleries, exhibitions among others once or twice a year have a 14% lower risk of dying than those who never take part in such activities.
As reported by CNN, out of the 6,710 adults aged 50 and over who self-reported how frequently they took part in arts-related activities over the follow-up period of 14 years, those who engaged in such activities every few months or more were at a 31% lower risk of dying early.
“While other health behaviours like smoking, alcohol and exercise are undoubtedly bigger predictors of mortality, these leisure and pleasure activities that people don’t think as a health-related activity do support good health and longevity,” said Daisy Fancourt, an associate professor at UCL’s Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health.
The researchers also said that ‘arts could boost longevity by improving mental health, reducing loneliness, developing cognitive reserve, reducing sedentary behaviours and reducing risk-taking behaviours,’ reported News18.
The study that explored the possible relationship between receptive arts engagement (going to the theatre, concerts, opera, museums, art galleries, and exhibitions) and survival concluded that ‘receptive arts engagement could have a protective association with longevity in older adults. This association might be partly explained by differences in cognition, mental health, and physical activity among those who do and do not engage in the arts.’
We know not everyone gets their kick from watching abstract paintings at exhibitions or at a full house of people enjoying Opera. But going by the study, if you want to extend your lifespan, you better start looking for the ones that might interest you.