Memory cafes at the National Comedy Center ignite laughter and connection for dementia patients

The Cirasundas were drawn to the comedy museum in western New York and the memory cafe that was housed there because of moments like this. People who have dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other memory loss, as well as those who care for them, are invited to visit the interactive museum during the monthly events. As comedy center personnel have discovered, the sceneries and memorabilia from comedic events and comedians have a way of bringing back memories and shared chuckles for visitors like Mario, who has dementia, and his wife.

Gail, 78, cherishes the times when Mario, who can still clearly remember his early school route and the names of former acquaintances, remembers things from their common past. Following Mario’s discharge from the Navy, a blind date in 1965 resulted in seven children, twenty-four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, jobs, and relocations. However, when Mario began to lose his way while driving and forget if he likes a certain meal, memories created over a lifetime together have grown more and more elusive.

The Cirasundas, from suburban Buffalo, and others spent the morning at a recent memory café exploring the museum in Jamestown, the hometown of “I Love Lucy” icon Lucille Ball.

As they laughed aloud at a display of vintage comedy props like the banana peel and pie in the face, perused standup comedian George Carlin’s personal notes and comedian Bob Hope artifacts, and smiled through Johnny Carson snippets from “The Tonight Show” in the center’s late-night studio, Gail held her husband’s elbow for support.

In the museum’s restaurant, the Family Ties movie evoked real-life scenes during a break.

According to Gail, the times are valuable because even if he might not recall it, you are remembering when you are there discussing it. You had that moment, but it’s gone five minutes later.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 7.2 million Americans over 65 have Alzheimer’s dementia, and an even greater number of people look after a friend or family member who has the disease.

In recent years, memory cafes have grown in popularity all over the world as a means of connecting and supporting people and caregivers while also offering tools and information. According to experts, many of the more than 600 cafes that routinely operate in the United States have meetings in libraries and community centers, invite lecturers, and involve patrons in art, music, and physical activity—all of which are beneficial to the brain.

Earlier this year, the National Comedy Center hosted its first one. After employees heard from visitors about how the museum affected their loved ones, it felt like a logical choice.

With displays honoring everything from Vaudeville to internet memes, the facility can take visitors of all ages back in time, according to spokesman Gary Hahn. Before the official memory cafés started, a visitor informed the center’s personnel that his wife with dementia rarely spoke but would start talking more when they were laughing and strolling through the museum.

Whether it was the humor or the memories, there was a stimulation of the area of the brain that affected her, according to Journey Gunderson, executive director of the institution.

According to author and Oklahoma State University psychology professor Shelia Kennison, humor has a variety of beneficial effects on physiology.

According to Kennison, who specializes in the study of humor’s role in memory, cognition, and general well-being, “it takes the majority of your brain to process what’s being said or shown to you and then to find the humor, and then it sets off this cascade of brain activity and physiological changes that affects the whole body.” “So when you hear that hilarious joke that makes you laugh, smack your knee, and rock back and forth, it’s truly a full-body and brain workout.

Gail and Mario Cirasunda have always valued laughter, and their kids frequently sent their father Peter Sellers Pink Panther films as presents so they could watch him laugh.

Before Gail got married, her boss advised her to maintain a sense of humor in her marriage. She claimed to have heeded the advise despite the difficulties.

Thanks to AP

Thanks to AP

Thanks to AP

Thanks to AP

Thanks to AP

Thanks to AP

Thanks to AP

Thanks to AP