It's official: arts and culture slows down ageing. So why aren't we doing more of it? A new study from University College London found that people who engage in activities like singing, painting, or visiting galleries are biologically younger than those who rarely participate.

The research, published in the journal Innovation in Aging, showed that weekly participants were on average a year younger biologically compared to infrequent attendees. This effect is comparable to the difference between smokers and former smokers.

So why aren't we making more time for culture? It's not that we didn't know it was good for us. Creatives often find their true inspiration in galleries, gigs or life-drawing classes – yet most of us end up watching Netflix instead. The problem lies in inertia and the ease of scrolling through endless content.

Culture requires effort; getting out there, being present, engaging with human-made art and ideas. This friction is precisely what makes it so effective. Schedule cultural activities like you would a workout – they could be key to living longer.