Creative activities may slow biological aging, study suggests

Vladimir Mashkov, president of the Russian Theatre Workers' Union, presented findings at the St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures suggesting that regular creative activities can slow biological aging.

Citing a 15-year study of over 3,000 adults, Mashkov stated that weekly engagement in activities such as drawing, singing, dancing, or theatrical production can slow biological aging by at least 1% per calendar year.

A second study involving 300 individuals, including theater artists and students from the Oleg Tabakov School of Theatre in Moscow, found that the hippocampus size in artists decreases at a slower rate, remaining 10-11% larger than in other groups. This increased hippocampal volume is linked to higher neuronal activity and stronger neural connections, contributing to a cognitive reserve that helps offset age-related mental decline.