The study analysed data from more than 3,500 adults in the UK and found that people who participated in activities such as reading, listening to music or visiting museums aged more slowly at a biological level than those who rarely engaged.

Researchers found that weekly participation in arts activities was linked to a 4 percent slower pace of ageing, while monthly engagement showed a 3 percent reduction. According to the study, the benefits were comparable to those associated with regular exercise. The strongest effects were recorded among adults aged 40 and over and among people involved in a variety of cultural activities.