Efficacy of laughter therapy in elderly patients with late-life depression and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: The proportion of older people in the global population is increasing. High rates of depression and dementia, as well as the risks associated with pharmacotherapy, highlight the need for new, safe and effective therapeutic approaches. One such promising method is laughter therapy (LT). Objective: to evaluate, in this systematic review and meta-analysis, the effectiveness of laughter therapy (LT) in older patients with late-onset depression and dementia. Material and methods. A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE and ProQuest databases (up to 28 May 2024). Studies were selected that included patients aged 60 years and over with late-onset depression, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Pick’s disease) or dementia who underwent LT. Results. Five studies were included in the final analysis. In patients with late-onset depression undergoing LT, the increase in vitality was comparable to the results in the control group. The meta-analysis revealed a strong trend towards increased life satisfaction compared with the control group. LT reduces psychotic symptoms of dementia; however, it shows conflicting results regarding distress, agitation and aggression, and a worsening of disinhibition is also noted. LT has no significant effect on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia as a whole. Standard treatment methods improve vitality more significantly in dementia. Conclusion. LT is a promising non-pharmacological treatment for late-onset dementia and depression, which may be preferable in cases where the use of pharmacotherapy is limited. However, LT requires monitoring for agitation and aggression in patients with dementia.
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7224949141