Laughter Therapy may Benefit Dementia Sufferers

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia has revealed that people suffering from dementia could be treated better through laughter. The researchers carried out the test in 36 different nursing homes as part of the SMILE study and involved humor therapist, Jean-Paul Bell who acted as a “humor valet” for half of the nursing home residents while the remaining residents did not receive any humor doses.

The researchers also appointed a staff member to become the “Laughter Boss” who job was to make sure that laughter was incorporated into the daily routines of the inmates. The researchers found that those who were given laughter therapy displayed 20 percent reduction in agitated behavior.

“There's evidence to show that people with dementia still experience humor and to the same amount of enjoyment as people without dementia but they find different things funny”, lead researcher Dr Lee-Fay Low said.

Source-Medindia