Scientists talked about the impact of creativity on slowing down brain aging

Creative hobbies, from Argentine tango to guitar playing, can slow down brain aging at the molecular level. An international group of scientists came to this conclusion after analyzing data from musicians, dancers, artists, and even gamers from 10 countries. This was reported in the journal Nature.

The scientists used the so—called "brain clock" - models that compare the biological and actual age of the human brain. According to Agustin Ibanez, a neuroscientist at the University of Adolfo Ibanez, the idea was to understand how creative processes affect the functional connections between brain areas. Using machine learning algorithms, scientists analyzed the brain activity of 232 representatives of creative professions and amateurs — from artists and dancers to video game players. The result was unequivocal: the higher the skill level, the slower the brain aged.

A particularly striking effect was observed in professional tango dancers — their brains turned out to be on average seven years "younger" than their chronological age. The researchers explain this by the complexity of the dance, which combines planning, coordination and memory work.

The scientists also conducted an experiment with novices. A group of participants were trained to play a StarCraft II strategy game that requires planning and creativity. A few weeks later, the subjects' brain activity showed a rejuvenating effect: attention and perception improved, and functional connections between brain regions increased.

According to the researchers, creativity involves more areas of the brain than conventional cognitive exercises like crosswords or number games. This makes it a powerful tool for preventing cognitive decline.

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Science Daily reported on October 6 that long and lasting friendships can be not just a source of joy, but also a factor in slowing down aging at the cellular level. As Anthony Ong, a professor of psychology at Cornell University, noted, the key was not the presence of one or two friendships, but the persistence of social ties over decades.

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