Altered sense of humor an early warning sign of dementia

by | Mar 12, 2017 | Aging gracefully, Spiritual Insight & Humor | 0 comments

man laughing

To laugh is human…….

Our scientific understanding of the role of a sense of humor as part of health is growing. What’s also emerging is an understanding that a shift in the types of things that make you laugh can be a clue to a change in mental abilities.

A 2016 article in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease reported on the results of a questionnaire about humor preferences.

People with all varieties of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, were more likely to lose their taste for absurdist or satirical humor, even while their appreciation for slapstick humor remained unchanged.  This change in humor preference actually served as an early warning sign of cognitive decline, showing up before other significant mental changes could be detected.

Does exposure to absurdist or satirical comedy serve to boost your resistance to mental decline? You can have a good laugh or two exploring this prevention option for yourself.

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