Longevity and culture: art lovers are 31% less likely to die

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Many factors affect a person's lifespan. In order to achieve longevity, it is not always enough to just eat right and do sports.

Researchers from University College London have discovered a connection between longevity and going to museums.

Associate Professor of the Department of Psychobiology and Epidemiology Daisy Fencourt and her colleagues examined whether there was a relationship between mortality in Britons over 50 and how often they visited cultural institutions. The work was based on data on the health status of more than 6,700 people.

Scientists found that regulars of theaters, concerts, museums, exhibitions and art galleries had a 31% lower probability of death than if the research participants were not interested in culture. Among those who went to theaters and museums no more than twice a year, a certain dependence was also observed – the mortality rate was 14% lower. The study did not take into account the effect on life expectancy of active art activities.

Such research cannot directly establish a cause-and-effect relationship between interest in culture and longevity, scientists warn. They believe that a number of other factors may play a role. For example, older people with higher indicators of physical and mental health are more interested in art. At the same time, a lower risk of death was observed in those interested in art regardless of gender, economic status or social conditions.