People who regularly visit museums or participate in creative activities may be aging more slowly on a biological level, according to a new study from the United Kingdom.

Researchers from University College London analyzed data from more than 3,500 adults and found that people who frequently engaged in arts and cultural activities showed signs of slower biological aging in several DNA-based measurements.

The findings were published in the journal Innovation in Aging.

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The study examined activities including painting, photography, dancing, singing, visiting museums and attending cultural events or historic sites.

Researchers compared participation in those activities with “epigenetic clocks,” scientific tools that examine chemical changes in DNA over time.

Adults who participated more often, and in a wider variety of activities, tended to show slower aging scores compared to people who rarely engaged in arts or cultural experiences.

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The association appeared even stronger among adults over age 40.

Researchers also noted that the effect sizes were comparable to those linked to physical activity, one of the most widely studied behaviors associated with healthy aging.

Jessica Mack, a health and wellness expert and founder of The Functional Consulting Group who was not involved in the study, said the findings reflect a growing understanding that health is influenced by more than exercise and nutrition alone.

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“Arts and cultural engagement may be associated with slower epigenetic aging, with effects comparable in some measures to physical activity,” Mack told Fox News Digital.

She said activities such as visiting museums and engaging with music or art may help reduce stress, improve emotional regulation and increase social connection.

“These are not ‘extra’ lifestyle activities,” Mack said. “They may be deeply connected to how the body manages inflammation, stress hormones, mood and overall resilience.”

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Mack added that people experiencing stress, social isolation, retirement or caregiving responsibilities may especially benefit from meaningful cultural engagement.

Experts cautioned, however, that the study does not prove arts engagement directly slows aging.

“This is an observational study, not an experiment,” Professor Steve Horvath of UCLA, a longevity researcher and pioneer in epigenetic aging research who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

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“So when researchers find that the people who go to museums have younger epigenetic age, we cannot tell whether the museum visits slowed their aging, or whether their slower aging is what allowed them to keep visiting museums,” he said.

Horvath said both explanations may be true to some degree, though he described the research as “methodologically careful” and worthy of further study.

The findings remained consistent even after accounting for factors such as smoking, income, body weight and other lifestyle habits.

He added that regardless of whether arts engagement is directly slowing biological aging, staying socially and mentally active is still associated with healthier aging overall.

“The prescription is the same,” he said. “Keep going.”

Because the Philadelphia Phillies have had a disappointing start, collectively, to the 2026 season, it’s easy to miss what Kyle Schwarber is doing.

Schwarber, even in his early 30’s, has taken his offensive game to a whole new level. In 2025, Schwarber exploded with 56 home runs, a new career high. Through the first 46 games of the 2026 season, he might be on his way to an even more impressive and historic number.

Remarkably, Schwarber’s already hit 20 home runs through his first 46 games. Through 162 games, that would put him on pace for 70 home runs in 2026.

Where does that stack up historically? Only two players in MLB history have ever hit 70 home runs or more in a season, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire. What else does those two players have in common? Both were linked to performance enhancing drugs. And in fact, the players who populate the leader board of all-time single season homer runs is primarily concentrated in that era.

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Until you get to Aaron Judge’s incredible 62 home run season in 2022, it’s Bonds, McGwire and Sosa. Could Schwarber challenge the 70 home run mark and in doing so, become the first to ever reach that number without some type of PED connection? Even looking into some historic comparisons, Schwarber’s 2026 has been impressive.

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When Judge hit 62 in 2022, he reached 20 home runs on June 3rd. Bonds reached 20 on May 19th in the year he hit 73. Schwarber reached 20 on May 15th. His latest coming during a crazy Phillies comeback win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

He’s had more home runs since May 7 than 22 teams. He has more total bases in the first inning this year than the entire San Diego Padres offense. It’s incredible.

Looking at the data behind his season, there’s some reason for optimism and reason for skepticism. Schwarber’s average launch angle thus far is 23.6, by far, the highest of his career. Hit the ball in the air more, have more opportunity for home runs. But it’s not just that he’s hitting it higher; he’s hitting it higher with authority. Schwarber’s career barrel rate is 16.6%. This year? It’s 26.2%. Making that level of elite contact, in the air, is a recipe for success.

That said, his expected statistics aren’t quite as rosy. His actual slugging percentage, .642, is 50 points higher than his “expected” slugging, which is .592. Still elite, but it points to some level of good fortune with his results. Same with his home run/fly ball rate, at 33.9%. Last year, 28.6% of fly balls he hit turned into homers, and that 5+ percentage point increase may not be likely to continue.

Still, this is a remarkable start to a season. And if Schwarber continues on this trend, it’ll be a historic finish too.