Can Humor And Laughter Boost Longevity?

Are They Keys To Aging Well?

Photo by Laura Gariglio on Unsplash

The other day, my two-year-old great-granddaughter took my hand and said, “G.G. run (that’s me - short for great grandma). She wanted us to run up and down the hallway - and we did, laughing all the way.

I don’t laugh easily or often, but she has opened the door wider the past year as we giggle, play, and nuzzle together.

I also don’t find most jokes humorous, particularly those at someone else’s expense or fake videos. Yet, there is hope. Raymond, the cat in the Leaves newsletter, cracks me up.

I wondered if laughter and a sense of humor were important for people who wish to age well. The answer seems to be a resounding “YES!!”

Laughter can:

• Draw people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes.

• Strengthen the immune system, boost mood, diminish pain, and protect from the effects of stress.

• Bring the mind and body into balance.

• Lighten burdens, inspire hope, connect people to others, and keep them grounded, focused, and alert.

• Help folks release anger and forgive sooner.

But does humor affect longevity?

The Science American website says so

“Funny or die” has a new meaning, thanks to a large study published in Psychosomatic Medicine. Women with a strong sense of humor lived longer despite illness, especially cardiovascular disease and infection. Humor seems to protect men against infection.

Another website suggests

Research indicates that a life lived in good humor can help adult men reduce their risk of death from infection by 74%. Ultimately, humor isn’t just something that makes life worth living; it also functions as a valuable tool that helps people deal with the inevitabilities of aging in a healthier, more resilient way.

A third article, Laughter And Longevity: How Humor Enhances Senior Health And Wellness, says

Laughter is often considered the best medicine for lifting spirits and fostering significant health benefits. More than merely an emotional response to humor, laughter is a powerful therapeutic tool, especially pertinent for older adults. 

Finally

Laughter isn’t just a delightful expression of humor and a tool for enhancing overall health and well-being. It promotes physical, mental, and emotional positivity and helps reduce pain, boost immunity, and protect the heart.

So, how can an older person develop a sense of humor?

WikiHow says

• joke kindly and carefully

• joke with yourself

The AskMetaFilter website suggests

• figuring out what type of sense of humor you can like

• start by smiling more

Those ideas don’t really work for me, except for smiling and finding things that make me smile. However, I do listen to music and documentaries more and the news less, include cute pictures and emojis in the newsletter, play with my great-granddaughter, and find humor in what I do. It’s a start!

A sense of humor might be more important than I thought if I want to age well.

P. S. I’d love it if you’d share the Aging Well Newsletter with others. I want to pass on the lessons I’ve learned through the years of life and caregiving to as many people as possible. More than anything, I want to continue to expand our community of readers.

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