"A new study in Nature Communications suggests exactly that. Creative engagement may not only elevate mood or self-expression. It may actually slow the clock on brain aging. Researchers analyzed more than 1,400 people across dance, music, visual arts, and strategy-based gaming. Then they used EEG and machine learning to estimate each person's "brain age gap," a measure showing whether your brain is aging faster or slower than expected. The results were striking."
"In this study, creativity strengthened major communication networks in the brain, especially the frontoparietal systems involved in attention, planning, motor coordination, and flexible thinking. These networks often decline with age. Creative engagement helped them work more efficiently. Experts in tango, music, drawing, and real-time strategy gaming showed delayed brain aging by about five to seven years compared to matched non-experts. Short-term video game learners showed about a three-year delay after training."
Analysis of more than 1,400 people across dance, music, visual arts, and strategy-based gaming used EEG and machine learning to estimate the 'brain age gap', a measure of whether a brain is aging faster or slower than expected. Greater creative engagement correlated with younger brain age across all domains. Deeper expertise in tango, music, drawing, and real-time strategy gaming associated with approximately five to seven years of delayed brain aging compared to matched non-experts. Short-term video game training produced about a three-year delay. Creative activities strengthened frontoparietal networks supporting attention, planning, motor coordination, and flexible thinking, improving efficiency and cognitive resilience.
Read at Psychology Today
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