Changes in humor could signal early dementia, and they could manifest well ahead of other symptoms.
Researchers from the University College London detected an altered sense of humor in those with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the most common type in those under age 55 and characterized by behavioral and personality changes ahead of memory problems.
They found that those with behavioral-type FTD inappropriately laughed at tragic situations or those not normally found funny, and tended to favor slapstick more than satirical humor, with changes having been reported by friends and loved ones at an average of at least nine years prior to more dementia symptoms manifesting.
Lead researcher Dr. Camilla Clark of the UCL Dementia Research Centre emphasizes that the attention on dementia needs to move from pure memory loss to personality and behavioral shifts.
“Humor could be a particularly sensitive way of detecting dementia because it puts demands on so many different aspects of brain function, such as puzzle solving, emotion and social awareness,” Clark explains.
The study focused on changing preferences in comedy in dementia patients. A survey of familly and friends of 48 dementia and Alzheimer’s disease patients inquired about patients' preferred comedy, including slapstick such as Mr. Bean, satirical such as Yes, Minister, or absurdist such as Monty Python.
Data was based on both current choices in humor, and family and friends' recollections of the patients’ humor preferences 15 years before diagnosis.
“Used to be very witting but that has all gone; humor has to be more obvious, laughs if others laugh,” a caregiver comments on the observed changes in one patient.
Another patient was also observed to have “developed a dark and misplaced sense of humor… relishes other people’s mishaps or upset.”
Lee Pearce was not a study participant but could relate to the findings as his mother was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and started showing behavioral changes at age 55. From being family-oriented and loving, his mother turned more and more detached and emotionless, according to Pearce.
"She'd forget family birthdays, laugh if someone had an accident or she heard someone was unwell and was even sacked from her job — all completely out of character," Pearce recalls.
According to Dr. Simon Ridley, research director at Alzheimer’s Research U.K., it is crucial to look at the wide range of dementia symptoms for timely, precise diagnosis. Changes in humor, for instance, offer clues on underlying brain changes.
“Dementia diagnosis poses multiple challenges, but through research we will be able to improve diagnosis and ultimately find treatments that tackle the specific causes of the condition,” he says.
The research paper was publised in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Photo: Rodrigo Paredes | Flickr
