It's No Joke!  Humor Promotes Healthy Aging

 

Perhaps because humor isn't seen as a "problem," little research has historically been done on the topic. Few people took the subject seriously, or paid much scholarly attention to this part of the human experience. But now, new studies are analyzing the workings of humor in the human brain—and demonstrating that the purpose humor serves is no laughing matter!

What is humor, and why do humans experience the phenomenon? Despite its seemingly lightweight nature, humor is actually a sophisticated tension-defusing mechanism, uniquely developed in human beings. Most people appreciate the sensation and seek it out. Perhaps for that reason, enjoying a good laugh is sometimes looked at as a meaningless, even frivolous, activity. But humor is actually a valuable tool of healthy aging, with a beneficial preventive effect on some of the most common health challenges of aging. These benefits fall in four important areas:

1. Laughter Promotes Physical Wellness  

Studies over the past decade show that using our sense of humor can have a positive impact on the perception of pain. It also benefits the immune system. And the benefits to heart health are especially well documented. A recent American College of Sports Medicine study describes the method by which laughter helps keep our blood vessels healthy. Earlier University of Maryland research showed that humor lowers blood pressure. And the American Physiological Society recently demonstrated that "mirthful laughter" improves cholesterol levels. It is believed that laughter works by relieving stress, which is implicated in so many negative impacts on our health.

Why is humor such an effective stress-buster? The process goes something like this: when we experience a stressful or frightening event, certain hormones flood our circulatory system, readying us for "fight or flight." These brain chemicals help us act quickly when we are in real danger—yet in our modern world, we are seldom in life-threatening danger, and over time the hormones do damage to the lining of blood vessels. But the perception of humor makes our brains release endorphins—natural "feel good" chemicals that, in a sense "dissolve" cortisol, epinephrine and other stress hormones. Built-up tension is released, fear and anger lessen, and the process of laughter relaxes the muscles by giving us a quick workout—a full body stretch, deep breathing, then relaxation.

For example: say you are sitting on the couch reading…and a large snake suddenly falls into your lap! Your heart rate immediately elevates, your blood pressure rises, all your muscles tense and your digestive system freezes. But then, you realize that the frightening reptile is actually made of rubber, and came your way when your five-year-old grandson missed the toy box. The laughter that follows—at ourselves and at the misunderstanding—quickly dissipates the fear chemicals, and you may actually end up more relaxed than when the episode began.

2. Humor Supports Emotional Wellness

How many times have you asked someone: "Are you laughing or crying?" The confusion is no accident: physically and chemically, laughing and crying are closely related! Yet they are, in a sense, two sides of a coin. Scientists have long speculated about the function of humor in the complex makeup of human emotions. Most believe it developed because, with our species' highly developed sense of self-awareness, we need the perspective of humor to allow us to lower our wariness. Much humor is tied to a sense of relief—for example, in the case of the not-so-dangerous snake above. Humor is a great distraction and can "take us away" from our cares. It provides a long-lasting mood boost, and is sometimes "prescribed" to help treat depression and anxiety. A Texas A&M University study titled "Humor and Hope" that appeared in the International Journal of Humor Research showed that humor "can be a legitimate strategy for maintaining a general sense of well-being."

Humor is a powerful tool for seeing ourselves as part of the human race, and gaining the perspective that our individual personal challenges are part of "the human condition." And though psychologists caution against using humor as a mask to avoid facing grief or other difficult emotions, laughter can help us process painful events. Even hospice studies demonstrate much benefit in laughter. A study titled " Clinical Clowning: Humor in Hospice Care" showed that hospice patients often made humorous remarks to family and staff; the study instructed hospice workers in techniques of therapeutic humor for patients dealing with the end of life. Even at funerals and memorial services, a classic example of how sadness and laughter partner can be seen, when friends and loved ones are comforted by sharing affectionate stories of the person they have lost. On those occasions, tears of sadness and joy mingle in a soothing blend. Not only physically but also emotionally, humor heals.

3. Humor Nurtures Social Connections

More and more research ties connects healthy aging to socialization—but in our later years, we can experience barriers to social engagement. (See " Rx Friendship: Add More Socialization to Your Healthy Aging Prescription" in the May 2009 issue of Aging in Stride E-News.) Fortunately, one of the major functions of humor is its capacity to bond us to other people. Anthropologists believe that humor is actually a sophisticated mechanism that developed so human beings, who traditionally lived in close quarters, could defuse tension within their close-knit band.

Humor helps when people are experiencing conflict. Could civilizations survive without it? Even in our modern day-to-day lives, laughter helps us take ourselves less seriously and serves as "social grease" to relieve tension between people.

Think of a typical exchange with a stranger: At an espresso stand, the barista inadvertently hits an extra zero on the cash register and charges you $35 for a cup of coffee. You might begin to scowl, until she quickly says, "Wow, that price really went up!" Her self-effacing joke lets you know she realizes her error. You might then make a joke yourself—something like "Until I have my morning coffee, I can't even add!" She then knows all is forgiven, and what began as kneejerk indignation on your part quickly changes into a brief connection with another person—you will probably be more likely to exchange pleasantries with her the next time you come in.

Humor also helped our early ancestors lessen hostility between strangers they encountered. Telling a good joke has long been known as a good "ice breaker," quickly tearing down the natural walls between people.

For example: You are sitting next to a stranger on a park bench, and a crow starts methodically pulling fast food bags out of a trash container, scattering the contents all over the walkway. You might smile, but keep your amusement to yourself. But what if the crow flies away just as a bicycle approaches, and upon witnessing the mess, the cyclist utters a disapproving "People make such a mess—they don't respect nature!" Chances are you and the stranger will share a laugh at the misperception.

4. Humor Is Great Brain Exercise

Did you know that one of the first changes loved ones are apt to notice when a person has early Alzheimer's disease is a difference in the person's sense of humor? Brain imaging shows that several areas of the brain all work together in a complex way to produce the perception of humor. Many researchers believe that understanding its complex function helps lend insight into some fundamentals of human cognition.

Humor is a great tool for sustaining optimum intellectual function. We've already seen how it benefits physical, emotional and social well-being—which are three important building blocks of brain health. Beyond those benefits, humor also can give our brains a good workout. Despite its reputation as a low or even childish mode of thinking, humor can actually be a highly developed mental exercise, training us to approach ideas in different, inventive ways. Even the lowly pun requires the brain to shift perspective.

Much humor relies on the recognition of a shifting perception of a situation, and on a sophisticated understanding of context. For example, think about the mental leaps both people had to make in the seemingly simple episode above involving the messy crow. They had to hold onto their knowledge of crow's actions, simultaneously shift their perspective to understanding the cyclist's mistaken reasoning, perceive the reason behind his comment—and make the leap to enjoying the irony of the situation.

Don't Be Afraid to Laugh

Humor is an individual thing, of course—our personal sense of humor is as unique as any other part of our personality, and what sends one person into paroxysms of glee leaves another perplexed or rolling their eyes. And of course, not every situation is an appropriate setting for laughter. Part of what we think of as a "good sense of humor" is the sensitivity to the sensibilities of our audience.

But for most of us, adding more laughter to life can give a boost to healthy aging in many ways. With its combined utilization of mind, body and emotions, humor is indeed nothing to laugh at!

For More Information

The International Society for Humor Studies is an interdisciplinary scholarly and professional organization dedicated to the advancement of humor research.  On their website you can find resources and information about the practical value of humor, including a good  bibliography of books and publications. 

-From: “ It's No Joke! Humor Promotes Healthy Aging”, By Joyce Remy, Editor, and Dennis Kenny, Co-Author, Aging in Stride–Plan Ahead, Stay Connected, Keep Moving , http://enews.aginginstride.org/pub.48/issue.1122/article.4656/ retrieved 7/22/09. Copyright, 2009. Reprinted with permission from Aging in Stride eNews – subscribe free at www.AgingInStride.org.

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