January 6, 2026, 1:28 pm | Read time: 6 minutes

Studies Show Ways to Keep the Brain Young

Recently, a study showed that several factors prove to be particularly effective in protecting the brain.¹ According to the study, sufficient sleep, a strong social environment, a healthy waist circumference or body weight, and avoiding tobacco use are particularly important for keeping the brain young. However, there may be even simpler measures with potential, including engaging in intellectual activities.

Also interesting: Training the Nervous System to Age More Slowly

More on the topic

Study Shows People Who Grow Up Multilingual Age Biologically Slower

Observational Study Certain Sleep Patterns May Increase the Risk of Brain Damage Later in Life

Creative Activities That Slow Brain Aging

A new study examined the effect of creative activities on the brain’s condition.² It went a step further. Instead of just measuring cognitive performance to draw conclusions about the brain’s state, it calculated the “brain age” directly. Researchers used neural data to show how “young” or “old” a brain is functionally.

Details of the Study

The team developed a model called Brain Clocks. These clocks measure how brain activity changes over a lifetime by assessing the deviation between predicted biological brain age and actual chronological age. The model was based on EEG data (electroencephalography)—measurements of the brain’s electrical activity via the scalp—from a total of 1,240 people. From these data, the model calculated the estimated brain age of each participant.

Subsequently, the research team examined in another group of 232 people how the estimated brain age differs among individuals with varying levels of creative experience. This included professionals from various creative fields—such as dancers, musicians, visual artists, or gamers. We refer to them as experts. Additionally, the researchers looked at people who had recently taken up a creative hobby. They used the so-called Brain Age Gap (BAG)—the difference between a person’s actual chronological age and the model’s estimated brain age—for evaluation. Negative values indicate that the brain functions biologically younger compared to the age. Positive values, on the other hand, suggest a somewhat “older” brain. This allows for a quantitative representation of how creative activities potentially protect and stimulate the brain.

Results

The scientists found: The more experience in creative activities, the “younger” the brain appeared in the model. In all examined creative areas, experts—from dance to gaming—had significantly lower Brain Age Gaps on average than people without comparable experiences. Their brains appeared biologically several years younger than their actual age. But even short learning phases, such as practicing a video game, led to a measurable improvement in brain age. Even short-term creative engagement shows a positive effect.

The analysis of neural data suggests that creative activities strengthen the connectivity between certain brain regions—those particularly vulnerable with age. These include networks responsible for attention, problem-solving, and coordinated information processing. This improved connectivity allows the brain to work more efficiently, as reflected in the measured Brain Age Gap.

Significance of the Observations

Creative activities apparently not only provide subjective enjoyment. The study provides direct neurobiological evidence that these activities are measurably associated with a youthful-appearing brain. Thus, the study’s findings may offer enormous potential. Although it should be noted that they do not prove causal effects. In other words, it is also possible that people with a healthier, youthful brain are more likely to engage in creative hobbies. Additionally, EEG-based Brain Clocks are a relatively new tool whose reliability still needs to be proven in research.

But one thing is certain: It can definitely be worthwhile to start dancing, making music, or engaging in other artistic activities. Dancing has various proven beneficial effects on the body, which also indirectly benefit the brain, not least because it is considered the ideal sport for weight loss.³ Studies also show that this physically demanding hobby can protect the brain from decline.^4,5 If a hobby also keeps the brain young, you’ve truly won.

The same applies to another activity that, according to a new study, is said to have a positive effect on brain age.

Helping Others Keeps the Brain Young, Study Says

Doing good for others can also pay off for your own brain. This was the conclusion of a study from Texas.⁶ It examined the relationship between volunteer work—such as volunteering at senior centers, schools, or social institutions, as well as neighborhood help—and chronic stress and systemic inflammation. It is known that chronic stress can negatively affect brain structures responsible for memory, learning ability, and emotional regulation. In this context, one might recall a study that showed that working overtime—which means stress due to overload and lack of recovery—attacks the brain.⁷

Details of the Study

The researchers of this study examined whether formal volunteering or informal support of people outside one’s household is associated with slower cognitive decline in old age. They used data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).⁸ This is a representative U.S. health study that follows more than 30,000 adults aged 51 and older over about 20 years. As part of the HRS survey, participants are regularly asked about volunteer activities. The HRS also assesses the cognitive functions of participating men and women using standardized tests. It analyzes changes in memory performance and speed over time. The research team thus had corresponding data available. It examined the influence of volunteer engagement on the brain’s condition using C-reactive protein (CRP). Through a distribution analysis of CRP, the scientists were able to identify subgroups within the population that may particularly benefit from volunteer work.

Evaluation and Possible Significance of the Results

Those who regularly helped others—whether officially as volunteers or informally as helpers in everyday life—showed a significantly slower decline in cognitive abilities. The greatest effect was observed with a weekly commitment of about two to four hours. These individuals retained their mental abilities up to 20 percent longer than those who rarely helped.

Prosocial behavior (= behavior intended to help others or improve their situation) could thus act as a cognitive activity that slows the mental aging process. The mechanisms could be diverse. As the study authors explain, the effect could stem from pure social interaction. Likewise, the emotionally positive experience from mere mental engagement could contribute to stress reduction.

Limitations

However, this study also could not prove a causal relationship. It is possible that people who are naturally more mentally active are more inclined to help others. Additionally, the measurement is primarily based on self-reports of volunteer engagement and cognitive tests, which is a limitation. Direct brain imaging data, which would allow objective statements about the brain, are lacking.

In summary, a similar conclusion can be drawn as for the first study: Volunteering doesn’t harm anyone—provided one is physically able and has enough time. If the brain stays younger as a result, that’s a nice reward.