How to live longer: 'Receptive arts' cuts your risk of death by 30 percent – what is it?
This could ring true if the research by University of College (UCL) London is anything to go by. Published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), engagement in the “receptive arts” could prolong longevity. Dr Daisy Fancourt – the lead author of the research – confirmed: “We found that arts engagement could have a protective [effect] in older adults.” A detailed 14-year analysis, cultivated from 6,710 adults aged 50 and over, demonstrated the health benefits of a cultured life.
Delving into the dataset, adults who engaged with the arts on a frequent basis had a 31 percent lower risk of dying compared to those who “never” attended such institutions.
Which institutions count as “receptive arts”?
Dr Fancourt and co-author Professor Andrew Steptoe clarified that the receptive arts included:
- Theatre-going
- Concerts
- Opera
- Museums
- Art galleries
- Exhibitions.
Professor Steptoe pointed out an assumption that people who attend such events are “wealthier, more mobile, and less depressed” – and this could explain why attendance is related to survival.
However, the “strong association between cultural engagement and survival” remained even when these factors were “taken into account”.
READ MORE: Can you syringe your own ear? Four steps to unblocking ear wax
