If you believe the myth, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León discovered Florida in 1513 during a failed search for the Fountain of Youth.
Scientists, however, might finally have found those mythical waters.
A recent study by British researchers found that people who participate in cultural and artistic activities show signs of slower biological aging. Those activities include dancing, going to concerts, strolling through a museum and making art.
A greater variety and more frequent involvement in these activities produced a greater benefit.
The study controlled for factors that might accelerate aging, such as smoking, higher body weight and various lifestyle factors. What is particularly surprising is that the impact is about the same as the benefit seen from exercise.
Scientists suggest we have two ages. One is our chronological age — the number derived from our date of birth. It’s immutable. This number only gets larger, no matter how much you buff those muscles or eat your broccoli.
Biological age is different. Think of a car. If you’re an aggressive driver, your vehicle will show more wear and tear. The odometer says 15,000 miles. The dents and bald tires make it look like it just passed 100,000.
The human body is the same. Researchers can estimate biological aging through blood tests that track chemical changes in DNA. In this case, study investigators used data from the United Kingdom’s large Household Longitudinal Study. They analyzed information from 3,557 adults.
Culture and the arts, the study notes, promote social connections, stimulate the brain and relieve stress, which are known to benefit health.
The Fountain of Youth isn’t a place. It’s a state of mind.