Slow Brain Aging due to Creative Hobbies
LIFESTYLE
11/18/2025
🚗 A1–A2 Level
Vocabulary
hobby (noun) — something you like to do in your free time.
Example: My hobby is painting.
brain (noun) — the part of your body that helps you think and remember.
Example: Eating healthy food is good for your brain.
age (noun/verb) — how old a person is; to become older.
Example: My dog is 10 years old. He is aging.
learn (verb) — to get knowledge or a new skill.
Example: I want to learn to play the guitar.
game (noun) — something you play for fun.
Example: We play a game every Saturday.
Creative Hobbies May Slow Brain Aging
Some hobbies can help your brain stay young. Dancing, painting, or even some video games can help.
Scientists looked at many people from different countries. Some people were very good at music, art, dance, or games. Their brains looked younger than their real age.
People who learned a new game also helped their brains. They played a game for many hours, and after that, their brains looked younger.
Scientists want to learn more, but they think hobbies are good for the brain.
Comprehension Questions
1️⃣ What can help keep your brain young?
2️⃣ Did the scientists study people from one country or many countries?
3️⃣ What happened to people who learned a new game?
Personal Questions (15)
Can you dance?
Do you have a hobby?
What hobby do you want to learn?
Do you play video games?
Do you think games are good for the brain?
What hobby helps you relax?
Do you like music?
What creative hobby sounds fun to you?
Do you want a younger brain when you are older?
Do you think painting is difficult?
What hobby do many people have in your country?
Can hobbies make people happy?
Do you like to learn new things?
How many hobbies do you have?
Would you try a new game to help your brain?
Comprehension Answers (A1–A2)
1️⃣ Creative hobbies like dance, art, or games.
2️⃣ Many countries.
3️⃣ Their brains looked younger.
🧠 B1–B2 Level
Vocabulary
pursuit (noun) — an activity someone does regularly.
chronological (adjective) — related to a person’s real age in years.
analyze (verb) — to study something carefully.
master (verb) — to learn something very well.
strategy (noun) — a plan used to reach a goal.
rely (verb) — to depend on something or someone.
Creative Hobbies May Slow Brain Aging
A new study suggests that creative pursuits, such as dance, art, and some video games, may slow brain aging by up to several years.
Researchers used a method called a brain clock to compare a person’s chronological age with how old their brain appeared based on brain activity.
They analyzed brain data from nearly 1,500 people in 13 countries. Some of these people were experts in music, painting, tango dancing, or strategy video games like StarCraft II. Their brains often appeared four to seven years younger than those of non-experts.
In another experiment, people who had never played StarCraft II were trained for about 30 hours. After learning the game, their brain age also became younger. A control group playing a simple game showed no change.
Researchers believe that regularly challenging the brain with creative activities may help keep it young.
Comprehension Questions
1️⃣ How many countries participated in the study?
2️⃣ What is one example of a video game mentioned in the article?
3️⃣ What happened to non-gamers who trained for 30 hours?
Personal Questions (15)
What creative hobbies do you have?
Do you think hobbies can help mental health?
Which is more creative: music or painting?
Do you enjoy learning new skills?
Have you ever mastered a hobby?
Do you prefer hobbies indoors or outdoors?
Would you like to try tango?
Do you like strategy games?
What hobby helps you relax after work?
Should schools teach more creative skills?
Do you think video games can train the brain?
Are creative people happier?
What is a hobby you stopped doing? Why?
Which hobbies are popular in your country?
What new creative pursuit would you like to start?
Comprehension Answers (B1–B2)
1️⃣ 13 countries.
2️⃣ StarCraft II.
3️⃣ Their brain age became younger.
🧠 C1–C2 Level
Vocabulary
pursuit (noun) — a long-term creative or intellectual activity.
chronological age (noun) — a person’s age measured in years since birth.
analyze (verb) — to examine methodically and in detail.
master (verb) — to gain complete control or skill in a discipline.
strategy (noun) — a structured plan designed to achieve complex goals.
rely on (verb) — to depend on a source or method.
Creative Hobbies May Slow Brain Aging
Recent research suggests that sustained engagement in creative pursuits—ranging from musical performance and visual arts to complex strategy gaming—may slow the brain’s aging process by four to seven years.
Scientists evaluated nearly 1,500 participants across 13 countries using a neurological model known as a brain clock, which estimates the functional age of the brain rather than its chronological age. Participants who had mastered skills such as tango, painting, or StarCraft II demonstrated significantly younger brain profiles.
A secondary experiment trained non-gamers in StarCraft II for approximately 30 hours. Following the training, these individuals showed reduced brain age, whereas a control group playing a simpler game did not. This suggests that cognitively demanding activities may strengthen neural pathways.
Researchers argue that the benefits may accumulate over time, particularly in pursuits requiring memory, decision-making, and sensorimotor coordination. While the underlying mechanisms are still being analyzed, the results indicate that creativity may play a meaningful role in lifelong brain health.
Comprehension Questions
1️⃣ What tool did researchers use to compare brain and chronological age?
2️⃣ What skill level did many participants have in their creative activities?
3️⃣ What did the control group demonstrate after playing a simpler game?
Personal Questions (15)
How might creative work influence cognitive resilience?
Are some creative pursuits more beneficial to the brain than others?
Can video games be considered a legitimate form of cognitive training?
Should governments support arts programs for public health reasons?
How does mastery differ from casual participation?
What role does creativity play in aging societies?
Is brain aging more biological or experiential?
Could AI tools enhance creative cognition or replace it?
How does flow state relate to neurological efficiency?
Should retirement plans include cognitive training requirements?
What ethical issues exist in measuring “brain age”?
How might cultural differences affect creative engagement?
Could we design education systems around neuroplasticity research?
Is strategic thinking undervalued in modern societies?
What future research questions should scientists pursue?
Comprehension Answers (C1–C2)
1️⃣ A brain clock model.
2️⃣ They had mastered their creative pursuits.
3️⃣ They showed no significant change in brain age.
