Laughter and Longevity: How a Good Giggle Can Help You Live Longer

We’ve explored how laughter can ease pain and lift your mood, but the link between laughter and longevity is even more fascinating. It sounds almost too good to be true, but science is catching up with what many cultures have believed for centuries: laughter really is life-extending medicine.

Living Longer: The Surprising Link Between Laughter and Longevity

You might picture longevity as something you earn by eating endless salads or clocking up miles on the treadmill. But research suggests there’s another ingredient: a strong sense of humour. A standout study comes from Norway, where researchers followed over 53,000 people for up to 15 years to see how their sense of humour related to longevity.

They broke down humour into three parts:

cognitive (your ability to see the funny side),

social (how you use humour with others),

and

affective (how often you laugh or smile).

The most striking finding? The cognitive side – being able to find something funny even in tough situations – was strongly linked to living longer, especially for women. Women with a high cognitive sense of humour had up to a 48% lower risk of death from all causes, a 73% lower risk of dying from heart disease, and an 83% lower risk of dying from infections compared to those with a low sense of humour. For men, the strongest benefit was against infections, with a 74% lower risk.

Interestingly, these benefits were most pronounced up to around age 70. After that, genetic and biological factors play a bigger role, and the protective power of humour faded. But until then, having a strong sense of humour helped people stay healthier and reach retirement age more often than their more serious peers.

The researchers also found that these benefits held true regardless of whether people considered themselves healthy or not. A sense of humour was protective even for those already facing illness. And the findings weren’t just a fluke: similar results were seen in smaller studies of patients with chronic illnesses, and even in a long-term American study that followed children for eight decades, where those rated as having less humour were less likely to reach old age.

Other research from Japan also shows that laughter and a positive attitude help people live longer. While we know these things are connected, scientists are still learning exactly how laughter works in the body to create these benefits.

So, what’s the takeaway? The ability to find the funny side,  even when life is tough, seems to be a real asset for longevity. It’s not about being the class clown or always cracking jokes, but about keeping a flexible, light-hearted perspective. Laughter is more than a quick pick-me-up. It’s a sign of resilience. A way of meeting life’s ups and downs with flexibility and hope. People who can laugh, even in tough times, are better at coping with stress and finding meaning in their experiences. This mindset plays a big role in health and longevity.

The Science: How Laughter Supports a Longer Life

Let’s dig deeper into what’s happening in your body and brain when you laugh – and how this helps you stick around longer.

Resilience and Adaptability: 

Neuroscience shows that laughter activates pathways in the brain linked to resilience. When you laugh, you’re practising a kind of emotional agility – shifting perspective, letting go of tension, and opening up to new possibilities. Over time, this flexibility helps you adapt to life’s challenges, which is key to ageing well.

Inflammation and Cellular Health: 

Chronic inflammation is linked to many age-related diseases. Recent studies suggest that laughter can lower markers of inflammation in the body, possibly by reducing stress signals and supporting healthy immune function. There’s even early evidence that regular laughter may help protect your DNA from damage, keeping your cells younger for longer.

Hormesis and Healthy Stress: 

Laughter is a form of ‘good stress.’ It gives your body a burst of activity – raising your heart rate and oxygen flow – then brings you back to a relaxed state. This kind of healthy stress, known as hormesis, can make your body more robust over time, much like how exercise or cold water immersion does.

Social Support and Longevity: 

We know from previous months that laughter brings people together. But did you know that strong social bonds are one of the best predictors of a long life? People who laugh with others tend to have wider, deeper social networks. These connections offer emotional support, practical help, and a sense of belonging-all linked to living longer.

Bringing It All Together: Your Toolbelt for Life

At The Alchemy of Being, we believe laughter isn’t just a treat – it’s a tool. Over the past months, you’ve seen how laughter can lower cortisol and ease stress (January), boost your immune system (February), ease pain (March), lift your mood (April), and now, help you live longer (May). It’s all about curation: finding what genuinely makes you laugh and weaving it into your life.

Charlotte keeps a collection of stand-up specials for rainy days. Sally’s family dinners are full of stories and laughter, keeping everyone feeling young. Nicky’s favourite is laughing at her own dance moves in the kitchen. It’s not about forcing it, but about noticing those moments and letting them in.

May Challenge: Laugh for Longevity

Let’s keep building your laughter practice:

1. Keep Your Laughter Log: This month, jot down not just what makes you laugh, but how you feel afterwards. Do you notice more energy, better sleep, or a lighter outlook?
2. Laugh With Others: Organise a laughter session – anything from a comedy night to a silly board game. Notice how group laughter feels compared to laughing alone.
3. Try a New Approach: Explore laughter yoga, improv, or even laughter meditation. These practices are designed to get you giggling, even if you start out a bit sceptical.
4. Reflect: At the end of the month, look back and see if laughter has shifted your sense of vitality, connection, or hope for the future.

Want to go deeper? Try our 30-Day Laughter Challenge. It’s packed with prompts and inspiration to help you make laughter a lasting habit, and maybe even add a few years to your life!

And remember: laughter might not add years to your life, but it will definitely add life to your years. So go ahead-laugh till your belly hurts (in a good way), snort unexpectedly, and don’t be surprised if people start calling you the “happiest alchemist” in town!