Creative activities may slow biological aging, study finds

Results announced at the St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures have revealed a link between engaging in creative activities—such as painting, singing, dancing, and theater—and a slowdown in certain indicators of biological aging.

Mashkov, speaking at the forum, said the findings are based on a 15-year study involving more than 3,000 participants of various ages, which examined the impact of creative hobbies on health and aging, according to Russia’s Novosti news agency.

According to Mashkov, the study concluded that weekly participation in creative activities was associated with a slowdown in biological aging by at least 1% per year, regardless of the type of activity—whether painting, singing, dancing, or acting in theater.

Mashkov also referenced another study involving over 300 people, including theater artists and students from the Oleg Tabakov Theater School in Moscow, as well as individuals from other professions and students from non-creative universities. Participants were selected based on gender and age criteria.

The study, Mashkov reported, found that the volume of the hippocampus—a brain region linked to memory and learning—decreased more slowly in artists, remaining 10 to 11% larger compared to others.

He added that the study observed a larger hippocampal volume in 95% of artists and more than 30% of the control group working in mentally demanding professions. This may be linked to increased activity of brain cells and neural connections, supporting what is known as “cognitive reserve,” which helps the brain cope with age-related decline.

The St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures will be held in St. Petersburg from September 24 to 26, 2026. It is organized by the Roscongress Foundation with support from the Russian government, the Ministry of Culture, and the St. Petersburg administration. TASS is the forum’s main media partner.