Engaging in creative activities such as dancing, painting, and even playing certain video games can delay brain ageing, according to an international study. The effect is stronger the more experience an individual has in these activities, the researchers report.
The study, published in Nature Communications, included contributions from SWPS University in Poland.
Creativity, the ability to produce novel ideas or solutions using imagination, is often associated with music and art, but the researchers found that certain video games can also stimulate it. “For example, strategy games like StarCraft II require users to be resourceful in developing unique tactics, adaptive problem-solving, and personalised playstyles,” SWPS University said in a press release.
Previous research has shown that creative activity benefits brain health, but studies have largely focused on cognition and well-being rather than measurable effects on brain ageing. This study aimed to provide direct evidence linking creative experiences to healthy brain function.
Researchers analysed neuroimaging data and surveys from over 1,400 participants in 13 countries, including Turkey, Italy, Cuba, Argentina, Canada, Germany, and Poland.
The participants included experts in various creative domains - tango dancers, musicians, visual artists - as well as action video game players, ranging from novices to experienced players. Brain activity was measured before and after several weeks of video game training.
The team used computational models known as brain clocks, which estimate a person’s “brain age” from neuroimaging data. Comparing predicted brain age with chronological age generates a brain-age gap (BAG), which reflects accelerated or delayed brain ageing.
Accelerated ageing is observed in psychiatric and neurological conditions and among individuals exposed to certain lifestyle or environmental factors.
The researchers found that creative activities, whether dance, music, visual arts, or gaming, could delay brain ageing and support healthy brain function. The effect appeared independent of the type of activity.
“All the analysed activities are associated with stimulating imagination and generating new solutions. Although they differ in form, they work in a similar way and may help maintain neural connections that are most vulnerable to weakening with age,” the study says. The activities also support key brain functions, including motor control, coordination, and attention.
“The study shows that creative experiences are associated with higher local and global brain network efficiency (especially in the frontoparietal hubs), which translates into more efficient information processing in those key regions,” said psychologist Natalia Kowalczyk-Grębska, PhD, whose doctoral dissertation at SWPS University contributed to the research.
People with years of experience in creative fields exhibited a slower rate of brain ageing than those with less experience, suggesting long-term practice is more effective in promoting neural plasticity. Even short-term engagement produced noticeable effects, though smaller.
“These results indicate that it is a good idea to regularly tap into our creative potential, be it through dancing, painting, or immersing ourselves in the world of computer games. Such activities are associated with slower brain ageing, making them one of the simple, everyday ways to support brain health and, indirectly, our well-being,” said Aneta Brzezicka, PhD, a professor at SWPS University.
Brzezicka added that the findings could inform public health initiatives. “They suggest the need to incorporate creative activities (e.g., artistic, musical) into educational programs and healthcare systems as a promising tool for supporting brain health and societal well-being,” she said. (PAP)
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