A change in sense of humor could be a sign of dementia according to a new study by UK researchers. And it may begin to manifest years ahead compared with other symptoms.

Some of the behaviors mentioned in the medical research published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease include laughing at inappropriate jokes, literally interpreting jokes and opting for childish or absurd humor.

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Researchers from the University College London conducted a comparative study on 48 patients treated at a cognitive disorder clinic who were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, including frontotemporal lobar degenerations and semantic dementia. They also tested 21 healthy individuals. Neuropsychological exams were given to determine cognitive abilities, as well as brain scans and other tests.

On the other hand, patients' relatives, friends or caregivers - granting they have known the person for no less than 15 years - also filled up questionnaires with regard to patients' sense of humor and how it has evolved over the years. Furthermore, they were asked to rank their fondness of three broadly categorized types of comedy, namely, farcical or slapstick (like the well-known British sitcom character Mr. Bean), absurdist (like Monty Phython) and satirical. They were also asked if they observe the person laughing at something others do not find humorous.

Results revealed that patients with dementia greatly enjoy farcical or slapstick humor compared with satirical or absurdist humor. Their fondness of the two other types of comedy - if any - likely declines nine years before classical dementia symptoms appear. A lot of the patients possess a habit of laughing about "dark" or inappropriate things.

"These were marked changes - completely inappropriate humour well beyond the realms of even distasteful humour," lead author Dr Camilla Clark said. "Humour 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."

The researches, however, emphasized the limitations of their small sample group and their reliance on caregivers' discretion and recollection of memories up to 15 years old.  Thus, further study is needed to determine whether change of sense of humor and dementia are really associated.

They suggest that an awareness of how the disease affects a person's sense of humor can possibly help improve social function. "We hope that our findings will stimulate interest in humor as an engaging, ecologically relevant and informative index of social functioning in neurodegenerative disease," they wrote.

Tagschange of sense of humor, sense of humor, dementia and sense of humor, Alzheimer's Disease, University College London, medical research, mental health, cognitive abilities, inappropriate laughter, neurodegenerative disease