Dark Humor Could Be Linked To Dementia, Study Finds

The research, from University College of London, spoke to friends and family of 48 dementia patients.

‘These findings have implications for diagnosis – personality and behaviour changes should be prompts for further investigation, and clinicians themselves need to be more aware of these symptoms as a potential early sign of dementia.

People with frontotemporal dementia can develop new personality traits, becoming more impulsive while struggling to deal with certain social situations.

There are many different types of dementia and frontotemporal dementia is one of the rarer ones.

Experts say that more research is needed to help identify more clearly when changes in humour can signify the beginnings of dementia.

The researchers found that people with both bvFTD and Alzheimer’s tended to prefer slapstick humour to satirical and absurdist humour when compared with healthy people of a similar age.

This included being amused by events others would not find amusing, such as a badly parked vehicle or a barking dog, and laughing inappropriately at tragic events. This part of the brain controls humour, personality and behaviour. The research found that patients began laughing at inappropriate things prior to being diagnosed. Others stated that a sane sense of humour took a back seat or probably disappeared while normal people laughed only at the comedy or dirty jokes.

Their findings show nearly all loved ones saw a change in a patient’s sense of humor within the nine years before their diagnosis.

And they asked the friends or relatives of the patients to rate their loved one’s liking for different kinds of comedy.

“[They have] little sense of humor at all, does not really find anything amusing but will give a silly laugh or sneer when totally inappropriate”, said one of the relatives.

It seems there may be a link between a change in comedic temperament and dementia.

The findings are also consistent with recent studies that show healthcare providers are failing to provide dementia-friendly services across hospitals.

Dr Simon Ridley, from Alzheimer’s Research United Kingdom, which partly funded the study, said anyone concerned about changes in their behaviour should speak to their GP.

It is vital to comprehend the full range of dementia symptoms as it increases doctors’ ability to make a suitable and precise analysis. She’d forget family birthdays, laugh if someone had an accident or heard someone was unwell and was even sacked from her job – all completely out of character.