Laughter Therapy Effectively Treat Dementia

DEMENTIA is often identified with dementia were able to overcome not only with medical treatment, but also with laughter. Yes, a new study has found that humor therapy as well as the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in managing agitation in dementia patients. It also avoids the side effects once drugs.


Senile itself is actually a common symptom of dementia, although dementia itself is not meaningful indication of the occurrence of dementia. People with dementia often can not think properly and the result can not move very well. Therefore, they gradually lose the ability to solve problems and slowly became emotional and often become unmanageable.

The first study found no positive effects of laughter therapy on mood, agitation, behavioral disorders, and social involvement in patients with dementia, according to lead researcher Dr Lee-Fay Low from UNSW School of Psychiatry.

The study, named Smile was conducted at 36 care facilities in Australia and involves the recruitment and training of staff members to act as a 'LaughterBoss'. Together with a practitioner, they will play with humor and improvisational comedy skills.

Smile This study found a decrease of 20 percent in agitation using humor therapy. Progress is equivalent to the common use of antipsychotic drugs. "It shows humor or laughter therapy should be considered before undergoing treatment for agitation, especially considering the side effects," says Dr. Low. Not only that, the effect of this therapy is quite long even that is up to 26 weeks. Happiness and positive behavior of participants has increased over the 12-week program. However, the increase was decreased by cepar when therapy is stopped. This study will be presented at the National Dementia Research Forum September 2011.