Engaging in creative experiences such as music, dance, visual arts and even specific video games can slow brain aging and promote healthier brain function, according to an international collaborative study published recently in Nature Communications.

Although creativity has long been celebrated for its cultural and personal value, this study is the first large-scale scientific evidence directly linking creative engagement to direct measurable protection of brain health.

Researchers across 13 countries, including researchers from Trinity College Dublin, examined brain data from more than 1,400 participants, including creative experts like tango dancers, musicians, visual artists, learners, and non-experts. They found that sustained engagement in creative activities was consistently associated with ‘younger’ brains, while even short-term training produced measurable (though smaller) benefits.

Participants completed brain scans (EEG and MEG) and cognitive tests, which were analysed with ‘brain clock’ models to compare biological and chronological brain age. The design also incorporated computational modelling of brain aging to assess brain connectivity and information processing efficiency, identifying mechanisms that link creativity with brain health. Results were validated across modalities and creative domains to test for generalisable effects.

Results showed that creativity was consistently linked to younger brain profiles. The protective effects were most evident in regions vulnerable to neurodegeneration (hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and parietal areas). Computational modelling revealed that creative engagement supports more efficient brain networks and stronger connectivity, mechanisms believed to underlie its protective role.

The findings highlight creativity as a public health resource, with implications for clinical interventions and health policy. 

Dr Agustin Ibanez, senior and corresponding author of the study, Professor in Brain Health at the Global Brain Health Institute and School of Medicine, TCD, and Director of the Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, said:  “Creativity emerges as a powerful determinant of brain health, comparable to exercise or diet. Our results open new avenues for creativity-based interventions to protect the brain against aging and disease. Our study also showed that brain clocks can be used to monitor interventions aimed to improve brain health.”