Rejuvenate Your Brain! How to Keep Your Brain Age 7 Years Younger with 8 Creative Skills

Rejuvenate Your Brain! How to Keep Your Brain Age 7 Years Younger with 8 Creative Skills

"Creative activities as play might be the secret to a younger brain, more so than meditation or brain training." In an article by VegOut (published on November 2, 2025), a study is introduced suggesting that people who regularly engage in creative activities have a "Brain Age Gap" that is on average about 7 years younger . The eight skills highlighted in the article include music, visual arts, dance, photography, improvisational writing, strategy/creative games, crafts/DIY, and creation that "mixes" multiple domains. The key perspective is that creativity is not just self-expression but a comprehensive training that stimulates the brain's wide-ranging networks simultaneously . VegOut


Key Points of the Study: What Makes a "Young Brain"?

Recent international collaborative research estimated "brain age" using machine learning from EEG/M/EEG functional connectivity data, and indexed the difference from actual age (Brain Age Gap, BAG). It was shown that people with rich creative experiences tend to have a negative (younger) BAG , and even beginners can improve their BAG with short-term learning . For experts, a rejuvenation effect of about 5 to 7 years , and for short-term training participants, about 2 to 3 years was reported (all estimated on the "brain clock" model). Nature PMC


Furthermore, studies have shown that long-term music training is associated with neural efficiency and youthful patterns of functional connectivity in older adults. Even in a single domain, sufficient mastery and continuation are suggested to enhance cognitive reserve and contribute to aging resistance. PLOS


Additionally, classical epidemiological studies have repeatedly shown that intellectual activities such as crafts, games, and PC use are associated with a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Creative activities are considered a "qualitatively rich" form of these activities. Journal of the American Medical Association


Note: BAG is an estimate of biological "youth" and does not determine causality . However, multiple studies consistently support the association between creative experiences and youthful brain indicators and cognitive efficiency. Nature


8 Creative Skills (Plus Tips on How to Start)

1) Playing Musical Instruments

A "whole-brain task" that simultaneously uses score reading, motor control, and emotional processing. 10–15 minutes × 3 times a week is enough to explore chords and rhythms. Long-term musical experience is associated with maintaining neural efficiency even in old age. Starting with a second-hand keyboard or ukulele is also great. VegOut


2) Visual Arts (Painting, Drawing, Digital)

Stimulates spatial cognition, visual memory, and emotional regulation. "Observation muscle training" with one sketch a day is effective. The goal is not the finish but rewiring the ability to see . VegOut


3) Dance/Movement

A super full-body creation that mobilizes the cerebellum, hippocampus, and motor cortex in multiple ways . Start with a weekly class or free dance to your favorite song . Tango and other dances with improvisation and pair synchronization particularly use wide brain networks. VegOut


4) Photography/Composition

Continuous decisions on "where to focus" and "what to discard" train fine decision-making circuits . Three photos a day with a theme constraint (reflection, shadow, texture) . Smartphone is fine. VegOut


5) Improvisational Writing/Storytelling

Use writing that employs **divergent thinking** rather than work documents. 5-minute nonstop writing starting with "This object has a secret," and withholding evaluation is key. VegOut


6) Strategy/Creative Games

Chess, strategy, and world-building games fully mobilize decision-making, pattern recognition, and adaptation . Avoid excessive long hours, but with short, high-density play , turn the "challenge + feedback" circuit. VegOut


7) Crafts/DIY

Woodworking, sewing, and gardening provide a combined load of spatial planning and fine motor skills . There are reports showing a link to reduced MCI risk. Starting with small repairs or mini furniture makes it less likely to give up. VegOut


8) "Multiplicative" Creation (Multimodal)

Combining different domains like photo × music × short text, dance × visual promotes network integration and contributes to both creativity and aging resistance . Setting a monthly mini-collection for yourself is also great. VegOut


14-Day Mini Protocol (For Busy People)

  • Day 1: One song with 3 chords (10 minutes)

  • Day 2: Take 3 shots on one theme (15 minutes)

  • Day 3: 5 minutes of improvisational writing + 3 minutes of review

  • Day 4: Step practice (8 minutes on YouTube)

  • Day 5: Chess/Shogi puzzle 10 moves (10 minutes)

  • Day 6: Craft work (measuring and planning a shelf for 15 minutes)

  • Day 7: Rest + observation notes

  • Day 8–14: Rotate the above . Every other day, add a **"multiplicative" task** (100-word caption for a photo taken + search for BGM candidates).
    Even short periods frequency × continuity are effective. This is consistent with reports that the "quantity" of creation scales with the amount of BAG improvement. Nature

Reactions on SNS and Public Perception

  • Welcoming Mood: On Reddit's science board, many users expressed sentiments like "Happy if games and music creation also help with a 'young brain' ," with comments promoting puzzle habits also standing out. Reddit

  • Institutional Endorsement: Public relations from GBHI (Global Brain Health Institute) and Trinity College Dublin have stated that music, dance, art, and games are related to delayed aging. They suggest the potential of the research as a social prescription . LinkedIn

  • Easy-to-understand Summaries on Instagram: Infographic posts like "Creative skills can keep brain age about 6 years younger " have spread, with reactions in the comments such as "Want to restart lessons" and "Want to recommend to parents." instagram.com

  • Cautious Perspectives: Summary articles of the news include disclaimers like "Causality is not confirmed, excessive screen time is a separate issue ." Limiting to short, high-density strategic play , and balancing with sleep, exercise, and interpersonal interaction is a realistic solution. SELF

Implementation Points: Three Principles

  1. Immersion Over Evaluation: More important than completion is immersion time .

  2. Frequency × Variation: Even in the same domain, change tasks ##HTML_TAG_506

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