Photography keeps you young
I've known it for a long time, but now it's also scientifically proven: Anyone who regularly grabs a camera could be cheating on their biological age. This is proven by a recent British study that has investigated the relationship between artistic and cultural activity and healthy aging for the first time at the molecular level. The result of the study: People who photograph, make music or visit museums at least once a week age biologically around four percent more slowly than people who rarely embark on creative adventures. Who would have thought that photography would capture not only subjects, but also years of life?
The camera as a reason for a longer life
The study, which is based on data from 3556 adults, is not a large-scale observation over several years. The focus is on the so-called DunedinPACE watch, an epigenetic marker that measures biological age. The results are clear: Those who are regularly artistically or culturally active –and this includes photography– demonstrably slow down the aging process at the cellular level. The effects are independent of factors such as education, income, or lifestyle.
Photography is the art of living
In this study, photography is not just one hobby among many, but a prime example of creative self-efficacy. Because those who take photographs sharpen their gaze for details, train perception, and remain curious about the world. This is an active contribution to one's own quality of life. The camera becomes an instrument with which memories can be captured and new perspectives discovered. In a time when aging is often portrayed as a deficit, photography offers the opportunity to shape one's own image of aging.
Motive search and social component
The study also shows that those who regularly exchange ideas with others, search for motifs together, or are involved in artistic projects benefit twice over. The social component amplifies the positive effect on biological age. Photography becomes a medium that not only fosters individual creativity but also enables belonging and exchange. The camera connects – and not just on Instagram.
Photography is more than a hobby
The results of the study show: There is no excuse to leave the camera in the closet. Those who take regular photographs are not only doing something for their portfolio, but also for their well-being and their biological clock. Perhaps the real secret to healthy aging isn't the perfect image, but the curious gaze with which we view the world and perhaps rediscover ourselves time and again.
(based on a Article by Christoph Künne, on Docma)
