Researchers at University College London have found that a shift in sense of humour, for instance from Yes Minister satire to Mr Bean slapstick, could be an early sign of dementia. These findings could hopefully help improve and hasten dementia diagnosis as it highlights changes not usually thought to be linked to the condition.
The team was interested in how a sense of humour can change in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease. While we might associate dementia only with the elderly, FTD is the commonest cause of dementia in the under 55s. It does not begin with memory difficulties but rather first presents itself with changes in personality and behaviour.
Humour was the main focus in the research because it is an important part of our personalities and how we deal with other people. Using questionnaires the researchers asked friends and family of 48 people with varying forms of FTD and Alzheimer’s to rate their loved one’s comedy preferences, ranging from slapstick, satirical and absurdist. They were also asked if they had noticed any changes in their loved one’s sense of humour, including inappropriate humour.
Dr Camilla Clark who led the research at the Dementia Research Centre, University College London, said: “As sense of humour defines us and is used to build relationships with those around us, changes in what we find funny has impacts far beyond picking a new favourite TV show. We’ve highlighted the need to shift the emphasis from dementia being solely about memory loss. These findings have implications for diagnosis – not only should personality and behaviour changes ring alarm bells, but clinicians themselves need to be more aware of these symptoms as an early sign of dementia.”
The findings showed that people with FTD had an altered sense of humour compared to those with Alzheimer’s or those who were healthy. People with FTD seemed to laugh at events others might not be amused by, such as a badly parked car or a dog barking. People with bvFTD laughed at tragic events and slapstick comedy, such as Mr Bean. Those with Alzheimer’s also found slapstick funnier.
Friends and family reported that they had seen these humour changes in those with bvFTD and FTD on average at least nine years before they displayed other dementia symptoms.
Dr Simon Ridley, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “While memory loss is often the first thing that springs to mind when we hear the word dementia, this study highlights the importance of looking at the myriad different symptoms that impact on daily life and relationships… A deeper understanding of the full range of dementia symptoms will increase our ability to make a timely and accurate diagnosis.”
