This Scandinavian Journal of Public Health publication by Anita Jensen, Mirnabi Pirouzifard, and Martin Lindström investigates the association between having visited the theatre/cinema and an arts exhibition during the past year and all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and other-cause mortality. The study found an association between attending arts and culture activities and a reduced risk of CVD and other-cause mortality but not cancer mortality.

This Guardian article by Denis Campbell highlights a study from UCL which explores the relationship between arts and cultural engagement and the pace of biological ageing. The study found that participating in arts and cultural activities on a weekly basis (e.g., visiting art galleries or museums, singing, painting, etc.) can help improve health outcomes and slow the pace of ageing, leading to people staying biologically younger on average. The findings provide evidence for arts and cultural engagement to be recognised as a health-promoting behaviour.

This Front Public Health systematic review and meta-analysis by Anita Jensen, Nicola Holt, Sayaka Honda, and Hilary Bungay aims to explore the relationship between individual health and wellbeing outcomes and participation in Arts on Prescription programmes. The study found that Arts on Prescription provided a statistically significant improvement in wellbeing, serving both social and psychological benefits.