How Painting, Dancing, and Other Creative Hobbies Help Keep Your Brain Young, According to New Research

 Key Points

Regularly engaging in creative activities—like painting, dancing, or gaming—can help keep your brain biologically younger, regardless of your actual age.

Creativity boosts brain health by enhancing neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections and stay mentally nimble over time.

You don’t need to be a pro; simply participating in creative challenges can lead to real, measurable benefits for long-term brain function.

 

We’ve all heard of different ways to keep our brains healthy, whether it’s eating more foods with antioxidants or doing sudoku puzzles daily. Though those are important ways of maintaining your brain function, research suggests that something a bit more joyful might also be the key to long-term brain health: creativity. 

A new study published found that engaging in creative activities can actually make your brain act younger. Flexing your creative muscles may be a powerful tool in keeping your brain healthy and youthful.

“This research provides powerful, large-scale scientific validation for something we've intuitively known but have struggled to quantify,” shares a neuroscientist. “Engaging our minds in creative ways is one of the most powerful interventions we have for our long-term brain health.”

The Research Simplified

The scientists behind the study wanted to understand how creativity could protect the brain’s function over time. The study talks about “brain age” the way we talk about our “chronological age,” which is the number of candles we blow out when we celebrate our birthdays. But your brain age doesn’t always match up with your biological age and different factors can impact it. It all depends on how efficiently your brain’s regions communicate with each other.

“Think of it like this: your driver’s license has your chronological age, but the ‘mileage’ on your brain can be younger or older depending on how you’ve used it,” Alcaide says. A younger brain, biologically speaking, tends to have faster connections between the regions. An older brain would have slower communication.

In this study, researchers used EEG to analyze brain function in over 1,200 participants. They used machine-learning to analyze the EEG data collected. The models learned to predict “brain age” based on the brain’s communication patterns, then the researchers compared those predictions to each subject’s chronological age.

When the results were compared, it was found that people in creative fields—professional dancers, musicians, artists, and expert gamers—had brains that were significantly younger than their chronological age. “Across the board, the creative experts had brains that were biologically younger,” says Alcaide. “An expert tango dancer, for example, had a brain age that was, on average, seven years younger than their non-expert counterparts.” 

The Science Behind It

So why exactly does creativity have this effect? The researchers say it’s because of something called neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to strengthen and reorganize connections based on new experiences. Every time you learn something new, there are connections that form between the different regions of your brain, keeping communication fast and ensuring they are in good shape. Creative tasks push the brain to problem-solve and adapt, which strengthen this internal wiring.

“Creativity acts as a constant workout for your brain,” Alcaide says. “It strengthens neural connections and makes your brain’s communication networks more efficient. This is the direct opposite of what normally happens as we age, when those connections can weaken.”

But this doesn’t mean you have to be a gifted artist or perfect a skill to take advantage of the neuroplasticity of your brain. One of the most exciting findings of the research is that these effects were “domain-independent,” meaning it wasn’t about the specific skill or talent, but the process of engaging in the creative activity itself. In a follow-up study, participants who trained on a complex strategy video game for a short amount of time saw their brain age decrease by an average of three years. “That shows how adaptive the brain really is,” says Alcaide. “It responds to creative challenges almost immediately.”

The Takeaway

The main takeaway is simple: making time for creativity in your life is a science-backed way to support your brain. “This is the scientific permission to invest time in that hobby you’ve been putting off,” says Alcaide. “It’s not just for fun, it’s a critical part of your long-term health.”

So dust off that old guitar, try your hand at watercolor painting, or take a salsa class at the community center. The research shows that these activities don’t just make life more vibrant, but they may help your brain stay sharper for longer. 

 

 

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Making Art Is Good For Your Health. Mke it a habit

Whether it's woodworking, sewing or sculpting teeny cupcakes out of bright purple clay, making art is good for your mind and body.

The act of creation can reduce stress and anxiety and improve your mood, says Girija Kaimal, a professor at Drexel University and a leading researcher in art therapy. And flexing our creative side can give us a stronger sense of agency — the ability to solve problems by imagining possible solutions. 

Making art can also feel pretty awesome, she says. Engaging in any act of visual expression activates the reward pathway in your brain, "which is perceived as a pleasurable experience."

Artists say they often feel those positive vibes when they work. Trinidad Escobar, a Filipino American graphic novelist and poet based in Oakland, Calif., says that drawing "feels like a superpower." And Liana Finck, a cartoonist for The New Yorker, says sharing her art with an audience is "the most cathartic thing in the world."

But you don't have to be a full-time artist to get in on those health benefits, says Kaimal. All you need to do is just make art. And the more you do it, the better. Here are six things you need to know to kick-start your creative art habit.

1. You don't need to be an artist with a capital "A"
We tend to think that only people who are very skilled at art can call themselves artists, but really, anyone can be an artist, says Kaimal.

"Everyone is capable of creative expression," she says. In fact, her own research has shown that there are no differences in health outcomes between those who identify as experienced artists and those who don't. So that means that no matter your skill level, you'll be able to feel all the good things that come with making art. 

Christianne Strang, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, promises that if you stick with it, you'll enjoy it. In her 30-year career as an art therapist, she has found that "99% of the time, people find that if they give up the idea that they're not good enough, if they give up the judgment, making art actually feels good."

2. Figure out your mode of creative expression
Start with what you enjoy — maybe something you've done before, maybe something you loved as a kid. But keep an open mind.

"Anything that engages your creative mind — the ability to make connections between unrelated things and imagine new ways to communicate — is good for you," says Kaimal.

You can do that through myriad activities: finger painting, cooking, baking, collaging, oil painting, weaving, knitting, crocheting, writing screenplays, scrapbooking — the sky's the limit. And don't feel like you have to stick to one thing, say the art therapists. Mix it up — do whatever you're in the mood for. 

3. Focus on the making, and let go of expectations

Once you have your art materials, here comes the fun part. Mess around! Let yourself get lost in the process and just play. Because it's the physical act of making art, says Kaimal, that induces those feelings of stress relief and positive energy — not what you make or how you make it.

Kaimal says you don't even need to complete a project or like what you're making to feel those health benefits.

In fact, says Strang, that can be a positive thing. In her free time, she likes doodling, watercoloring and glass fusing. "Sometimes, when I don't like what I'm making, it frees me up to play and explore new ideas, because I've let go of expectations," she says.
 
4. Think about making art like any healthy habit, such as eating well or exercising

Just as you make time to work, exercise and hang out with family and friends, you should make time for your artistic endeavors, says Strang. "Creativity in and of itself is important for remaining healthy — remaining connected to yourself and remaining connected to the world," she says.

While there are no hard and fast rules for how much time you should devote to engaging in art, Strang has a suggestion: "as much as you can get away with."

Try to designate a special time in your week to devote to your practice, says Kaimal. She likes to set aside time on the weekends to work on her own art projects: mixed-media pieces inspired by nature. She calls it her "TGIS." "Thank God it's Saturday," she says. "It's my few hours of time to develop something I'm working on and really take that time for myself."

You don't even need a few hours. Escobar, the Oakland-based artist, teaches community art classes to people of color and members of the LGBT community. She says that doing just 10 minutes of art each day can do wonders.

Whatever you do, don't wait for creative inspiration to strike. "That's a myth that you'll create because you're in this altered state of mind and feeling free and loose," she says.

In addition to carving out time, carve out a physical space in your home for art, says Kaimal. She suggests setting up a corner table for your sketchbook and art supplies. If space is an issue, put it all in a basket or a plastic container that's easily accessible.

Your creative corner is "kind of like a reminder," she says. "It reinforces your commitment to invest in yourself and your well-being." 

5. Ride those waves of emotion
The more you're able to make art a regular habit, the more you're likely to get this great reward: this wonderful thing that happens when you're in the zone. Kaimal says that scientists have a word for it. It's called "flow."

"It's that sense of losing yourself, losing all awareness. You're so in the moment and fully present that you forget all sense of time and space," she says.

Escobar says she feels that flow when she's filling in lines with color, inking — which in the world of cartooning means tracing over pencil marks with ink — and when she's drawing aesthetically pleasing backgrounds, such as jungle or garden scenes.

"It feels meditative," she says, like things are "going well, smoothly, like the process is nourishing me."

6. Get yourself in the mood

Some days, you won't feel like making art. And that's OK, says Finck. As the author of several graphic novels, most recently Excuse Me: Cartoons, Complaints, and Notes to Self, she's used to juggling multiple projects.

"I get a lot of writer's block," she says. "It feels like stage fright when I sit down with a blank page."

To trick herself into drawing, Finck tells herself to think "that I'm just doodling," she says. "Then it flows freely."

If the block persists, she checks in with herself. What's stopping her from drawing? Is she anxious? Depressed? Worried?

"If you're too anxious to draw, address the anxiety. Go take a walk. Stand up from the couch. Go for a run. See a person," says Finck.

You can also try a breathing exercise, says Escobar. "Inhale for four seconds and hold for a second. Repeat that for about three minutes."

She does this with students in her art classes to help them reset and refocus after a long day at work — and it works, she says, like a charm. 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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7 Discoveries Showing How the Brain and Body are Linked

The brain is a part of our body, so of course, it's connected and influenced by our body, you may think. And while this basic assumption is definitely at the heart of the findings we will discuss here, the ways in which our brains are interconnected with the other organs and systems of our body can be quite unexpected, with things like hydration level and specific foods having a profound influence on our mind. But it isn't only our gut or cardiovascular system that can influence how well our brains work: our experiences and habits are just as important to our mental health and cognitive performance. These 7 neuroscientific discoveries illustrate how our brain, our body, and our experiences are all meaningfully interconnected and have a strong effect on our health and well-being.

1. Your Brain’s Health and Functioning is Dependent on Your Gut Health

The idea of the gut-brain connection has been around for a while, but the more scientists learn about the specific ways our guts influence our brains, the more we get to understand the holistic importance of a healthy diet. More specifically, we now know that a poor diet is a contributor to mental illness, particularly anxiety and depression, but it may also alter our cognitive abilities.

For example, a diet high in sugar was shown to impair our cognitive abilities in the short term, causing brain fog. The long-term effects of sugar are no less alarming, as there is evidence linking depression and a high-sugar diet. On a more positive note, a healthy diet was shown to have a beneficial effect on depression.

2. Mental Tasks and New Experiences can Boost one’s Brain Health

One of the most significant neuroscience discoveries of the past decade is the idea that our brain is malleable and new experiences, training, and learning can improve its functioning. In neuroscience, this notion is known under the term 'neuroplasticity', and, as you might expect, the human brain is most pliable in childhood, but it continues being shaped by our experiences throughout our lives.

This is why reading, playing and listening to music, painting and many other types of mental training are all so beneficial for our cognitive health and help us maintain a sharp mind for longer. More interestingly, recent scientific research focusing on the ways we can use neuroplasticity to our advantage also showed that we can improve our memory by simply engaging in new enjoyable activities and trying new things.

3. Both Too Much and Not Enough Sleep Can Affect Your Cognition

Sleep is one of the favorite topics in neuroscience, with numerous studies suggesting that both too much and not enough sleep can impair our memory, creativity and cognitive tasks, such as concentration and problem-solving. The largest-ever sleep study was conducted in 2017, with over 10.000 participants tested, and it concluded that the previous hypothesis was true and sleep does affect our decision-making and concentration even in the short term.

However, the same study concluded that memory performance is NOT affected by sleep, although admittedly they did not look at the long-term effects of sleep. Still, it’s best to get an average 7-8 hours of sleep every day to stay in top shape.

4. Healthy Body, Healthy Mind: the Effects of Exercise on Our Brain

Your brain needs exercise, we discussed that in the second point but turns out that regular old exercise, too, can boost your cognitive health and help retain a sharp mind in your senior years. One study even suggested that exercise helps delay dementia by 15 years!

Apart from being an excellent preventative measure of Alzheimer’s and dementia, however, exercise can help us boost our cognitive performance and thinking skills, too. As for the kind of exercise in question, experts suggest that a mixture of cardio, flexibility training, strength and resistance training will give you the greatest cognitive boost, but as long as you exercise regularly, any training you enjoy will benefit your brain as well.

5. Chronic Stress Can Shrink Your Brain

You probably heard that a little stress is useful for our brain from time to time, and it may be true, but most of us don’t get just a little stressed, don’t we? And that’s exactly the problem. When we are stressed out day after day, our prefrontal cortex, the steering wheel of our brain, gets affected, making us less alert and worse at performing cognitive tasks, all because of cortisol, the infamous stress hormone.

Another brain area affected by stress is the hippocampus, which helps us learn and remember things. Ultimately, chronic stress can even cause mood swings, irritability, mental illness (e.g. anxiety, depression, addiction) and was even found to contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. In extreme cases, constant stress was even shown to be able to shrink the brain volume, particularly the cortex.

6. Mindfulness May Help Keep Your Brain Younger for Longer

Mindfulness training is the hot topic both in psychology and neuroscience nowadays, but it’s not a new invention, as both yoga and meditation rely heavily on the idea of self-awareness and mindfulness. There’s a massive amount of research showing that mindfulness can make you more resistant to pain, help you deal with mental illness and even prevent cortical degeneration caused by dementia and aging.

So if there’s one thing you should start doing, that’s some sort of mindfulness practice, be it yoga, meditation, or mindful breathing.

7. Your Water Intake Affects your Brain

A dehydrated brain is a sluggish brain, one that can make it difficult for you to focus, maintain attention, and engage in problem-solving tasks. A 2018 study found that losing as little as 2% of body weight for adults can instantly affect all these mental faculties. Keep in mind that losing that much water is not uncommon, especially in the summer weather.

Also, kids and seniors are at a higher risk of suffering from dehydration. The conclusion is simple: always keep a full water bottle on hand, especially if you’re spending time in the sun, but don’t overindulge either. Why? This is because drinking too much water is as dangerous as dehydration, as it can dilute your blood and, in severe cases, can make your brain swell, which can be lethal.

How much water should you drink, then? Doctors generally recommend drinking around half a gallon (2 liters) of water a day for an average adult, which is about 8 glasses of water, but this may differ depending on your weight and diet.

 

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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