Creative hobbies could slow brain ageing at the molecular level

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Creativity and the Brain: How Dance, Music, Art, and Games Keep Us Young

Creativity fuels the brain’s youth — from tango steps to brush strokes, every artistic move strengthens connections and slows ageing.
Photo by Abolfazl eslami on Unsplash

Aging is inevitable, but how fast our brains age may depend on what we do with them. A new international study published in Nature Communications suggests that engaging in creative activities—whether it’s dancing the tango, playing the guitar, painting, or even playing certain video games—can slow down brain ageing and keep the mind young.

Key Highlights of the Study

  • Scope of research: Involved 1,240 participants across 10 countries.

  • Creative groups studied: Tango dancers, musicians, visual artists, and video game players.

  • Tool used: “Brain clocks,” advanced models based on neuroimaging data that estimate brain age by measuring functional connectivity (how brain regions work together).

  • Main finding: Creative activities reduce the brain age gap, making the brain appear younger than chronological age.

1. Why Creativity Matters for the Brain

  • Creativity stimulates multiple brain regions simultaneously.

  • It enhances coordination, planning, working memory, rhythm, perception, and decision-making.

  • Creative thinking appears less vulnerable to age-related decline compared to standard cognitive exercises like puzzles.

2. Experts vs. Beginners: Both Benefit

  • Experienced individuals (musicians, dancers, artists) had brains that appeared significantly younger than their actual age.

  • Tango dancers showed the most striking effect—their brains were, on average, seven years younger. Tango’s mix of movement, rhythm, coordination, and planning makes it especially powerful for brain health.

  • Beginners also benefited. Even learning a creative skill from scratch slowed brain ageing, proving it’s never too late to start.

3. Video Games and Creativity: Not Just Fun

  • Researchers tested the effect of learning StarCraft II, a strategy-based video game.

  • Novice players who trained for a few hours weekly showed:

    • Reduced brain age.

    • Improved attention and perception.

    • Stronger connectivity in attention-related regions.

  • Control group players who learned a simpler, rule-based game didn’t show these benefits.

  • Conclusion: Games that demand strategy, creativity, and planning can be powerful tools for brain youth.

4. Brain Regions Most Protected by Creativity

  • Creativity strengthened the frontoparietal region, which is critical for working memory and decision-making and is highly vulnerable to age-related decline.

  • Stronger connections were also observed in regions tied to movement, coordination, and rhythm—essential areas that typically weaken with age.

5. The Bigger Picture

  • Creativity may engage more brain networks than traditional mental exercises.

  • Beyond slowing ageing, creative activities also boost emotional well-being, resilience, and adaptability.

  • According to neuroscientist Agustín Ibáñez, “You don’t need to be Da Vinci to have healthy effects.” Even modest engagement with creative tasks can help.

6. Future Directions

  • Researchers plan to explore how creativity affects other health aspects, not just brain ageing.

  • The potential is huge: promoting creativity could become a simple, enjoyable, and non-invasive strategy to protect both mental and physical health.

Practical Takeaways for You

  • Dance: Activities like tango provide both physical and cognitive benefits.

  • Music: Learning an instrument stimulates memory, rhythm, and coordination.

  • Art: Painting, sketching, or sculpting enhances imagination and motor skills.

  • Games: Strategy-rich video games sharpen planning, focus, and decision-making.

  • Start anytime: Even beginners gain measurable benefits—proof that it’s never too late.

Conclusion

The science is clear: creativity isn’t just self-expression—it’s brain protection. Whether through music, dance, art, or games, creative pursuits build connections in the brain, slow down ageing, and keep our minds sharper for longer.

So, if you’ve ever thought about taking up tango, dusting off that guitar, or diving into a strategic game—now is the perfect time. Your brain will thank you.

Source: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03197-z

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