Creativity can slow down brain aging

If you like to do something creative, then congratulations, you may have found the most enjoyable way to deceive your age. A new study conducted by experts from the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) claims that actively engaging in creative hobbies can slow down brain aging. Until now, we knew that art was good for the soul, but now we have solid scientific evidence of its enormous benefits for brain health.

For the first time in history, this major international study, which involved experts from Trinity College Dublin, directly linked creativity with measurable protection of our thinking. The team combined data from 13 countries and studied the “brain portraits” of more than 1,400 people. Among the participants were both real experts (musicians, artists, even tango dancers), as well as just beginners or people without special creative hobbies.

The main conclusion is that people who are constantly doing something creative have brains that are biologically younger than their actual age. At the same time, even a short course of study — for example, mastering a new video game — had a smaller but noticeable positive effect. Dr. Agustin Ibanez, one of the lead authors, compared the effects of creativity on the brain with the benefits of exercise or proper nutrition. He stressed that these results open a new era in the development of techniques to protect the brain from diseases and age-related changes.

The scientists used a unique tool called a “brain clock.” This watch compares a person’s actual age with the biological state of their brain, showing how quickly it wears out. This method was usually used to assess negative factors, such as the impact of poor ecology or genetic risks. But now, for the first time, the “brain clock” has proven its effectiveness in assessing positive impacts, in this case, the power of art and creativity.

Scans and tests have shown that creativity supports more efficient brain networks and strengthens connections between its departments, especially in those areas (hippocampus, prefrontal cortex) that are most vulnerable to age-related changes. Dr. Carlos Coronel, the first author of the study, enthusiastically noted that you don’t have to be an expert to get health benefits. Even a simple but regular occupation of your favorite activity is beneficial.

The findings suggest that creativity is not just a pleasant pastime, but a real public health resource, as important as sports. From tango lessons to mastering complex computer strategy, these practices combine the ability to protect our brains.

Experts suggest: let creativity be an affordable and powerful way to maintain health at any age. After all, we now have a sensitive meter — the “brain clock” — that can track how much younger we are getting thanks to our favorite hobbies.