The Healing Power of Laughter for Older Adults

Whether it’s an inside joke with your friend or watching a compilation of silly moments on an episode of America’s Funniest Home Videos, nothing beats a good laugh. But humor isn’t just an enjoyable part of everyday life — it may also support your health as you age.

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Believe it or not, not all aspects of healthy aging are about diet and exercise. It can also be about doing the things you enjoy that can naturally boost your mental and physical well-being — such as laughter. Keep reading to learn the many benefits of laughter for seniors and explore an interesting form of therapy that may add more humor to your life.

Why Humor Matters More for Older Adults

Seniors can face many challenges related to aging in later life. “Older adults face a multitude of ‘aging’ issues, including physical issues and limitations and emotional challenges such as losing loved ones and adjusting to the challenges of limited and deteriorating abilities,” explains Steven Sultanoff, PhD, psychologist, author, and professor at Pepperdine University with over 40 years of experience in the therapeutic humor field.

Ultimately, these stressors can contribute to mental health conditions like depression, which affects about 5.7% of seniors 60 and older.

While humor is not a cure-all for these experiences, it is a simple, accessible tool that can help you get through hard times.

The Health Benefits of Laughter

Here are the research- and expert-backed health benefits of laughter:

Stress Relief

Seeking a stress reliever? Try laughter. “When we laugh, feel-good chemicals are released in our brains, causing improved mood and lowered stress,” says Patricia S. Dixon, PsyD, a clinical psychologist, therapist, coach, and CEO of Manatee Associates of Counseling & Assessment, LLC.

Dr. Sultanoff says that humor, in particular, can improve your mental well-being because it causes an experience called “mirth.” “Mirth triggers joy, delight, feeling uplifted, and more,” he explains. “Mirth also dissolves distressing emotions such as anxiety, depression, and anger. Most of the time, you experience mirth in the absence of laughter, and therefore it is not laughter that causes the emotional benefits; it is humor.”

Pain Tolerance and Physical Comfort

If you experience regular pain and discomfort from chronic conditions or just the typical “wear-and-tear” from aging, a few laughs might help. In a research study involving 40 people with chronic pain, watching a 30-minute comedy video that caused laughter significantly increased their pain tolerance.

Heart and Immune Health

“Laughter has been associated with heart disease as it appears to improve the endothelium, which lines blood vessels,” Dr. Sultanoff explains. “Also, people with a good sense of humor appear to have fewer heart-related conditions.”

Dr. Sultanoff also adds that laughter can boost your immune system by “increasing antibodies that fight respiratory disease and infections.”

Dr. Sultanoff says that humor, in particular, can improve your mental well-being because it causes an experience called “mirth.” “Mirth triggers joy, delight, feeling uplifted, and more,” he explains. “Mirth also dissolves distressing emotions such as anxiety, depression, and anger. Most of the time, you experience mirth in the absence of laughter, and therefore it is not laughter that causes the emotional benefits; it is humor.”
Steven Sultanoff, PhD, psychologist, author, and professor at Pepperdine University

Cognitive and Emotional Benefits

Dr. Sultanoff says that wit can help provide mental and cognitive benefits. “Like many psychotherapies, wit helps people shift the way they view the world,” he explains. “It reduces negative thinking and, if incorporated into one’s being, creates an ongoing view of the world that minimizes cognitive and emotional distress.”

The Social Benefits of Laughter

Aside from the potential health benefits of a few hearty belly laughs, it may also improve your social life. “Sharing laughter with someone else creates a special bond between people,” Dr. Dixon explains. “For the aging population, laughter helps maintain social connections, fosters relationships, and can decrease feelings of isolation.”

She adds that social contention can make you feel more connected to others and make life more meaningful and fulfilling. “Laughter can help seniors enjoy life more by allowing them to feel joyful, connected, and alive. Laughing lets you live, rather than just exist,” she says.

With loneliness being a common issue for many adults, laughter can be a bridge to better social connectedness in your life. Plus, a healthy social life may lead to better outcomes, including weight management, cancer survival, a lower risk of cardiovascular death, reduced depressive symptoms, alleviation of PTSD symptoms, and improved overall mental well-being.

What Is Laughter Therapy?

Want to add more laughter to your life, but want to go beyond visiting a comedy show or watching reruns of Friends or The Golden Girls? You might want to consider laughter therapy — and yes, that is a real form of therapy.

“Laughter therapy centers around practicing forced laughter exercises and being playful in order to stimulate the body to release pleasure-inducing hormones,” Dr. Dixon explains. “The simple act of smiling or lightly chuckling can help shift your mood and relieve stress. Even fake laughs release some of the same emotions that you would get from natural laughter.”

Laughter therapy can involve comedy, yoga, and group laughter exercises. For older adults, engaging in laughter therapy can be especially beneficial. Research shows that this therapeutic approach can greatly improve general health, including somatic (physical) symptoms, as well as anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction, and depression in seniors.

Several therapists offer in-person or virtual laughter therapy, and some may even have experience addressing the age-related challenges that older adults face.

“Remember, always consult with your doctor before trying something new that you want to make part of your regular health regimen,” Dr. Dixon says.

Simple Ways to Add More Humor to Your Day

Dr. Sultanoff and Dr. Dixon offer the following tips to get some more humor in your life:

Ask your friends or family members to share funny memories with you.
Watch comedies or read funny books.
Look through photos or videos to bring back funny memories.
Reflect on times when you laughed the hardest.
Keep a humor prop, such as a clown nose, bubbles, sayings, or images, nearby.
Have a physical list of anything that can make you laugh.
Join a comedy club.
Do something that brings you joy, such as playing a game, crafting, or pursuing a hobby.

When Humor Isn’t Enough

It is important to note that humor is not a replacement for professional medical or mental healthcare. If you’re dealing with severe pain or symptoms of a mental health condition, it’s best to seek support from a licensed healthcare professional.

Laughter is a low-cost, accessible tool that can support older adults’ mental and physical well-being — and the research proves it. Whether you watch a standup show or partake in laughter therapy, humor can be a great way to stay connected, engaged, and, ultimately, make your life more enjoyable and meaningful.

The Healing Power of Laughter for Older Adults

Why Humor Matters More for Older Adults