The Effects of Laughter and Happy Experiences on Immune Functions and QOL of the Elderly under Treatment

本研究的目的是阐明笑和快乐的经历对接受治疗的老年人的免疫功能和生活质量的影响。在第一阶段，我们进行了两个实验：卡拉OK的影响[音乐体验]。探讨女大学生的免疫功能及观看电视喜剧对女大学生免疫功能的影响，检测NK细胞的变化。结果表明，观看喜剧表演（积极的乐趣）与NK细胞的增加有关，而不是卡拉OK（积极的乐趣）。根据结果，我们进行了第二阶段，使用“现场或视频演示rakugo [漫画独白]和manzai [漫画背话]。“然后我们检查了免疫功能和QOL的变化。受试者为70岁或以上的男性和女性，他们没有衰老，住在治疗单位。每周一次，rakugo或manzai被提出，并持续4周。在第一周和第四周的介绍之前和之后，采集血液样本并进行问卷调查。8名受试者的第一次血液样本显示以下指标显著增加：NK细胞活化（3名受试者，37.5%）、NK细胞数量（6名，75%）、β -内啡肽（6名，75%）、ACTH（6名，75%）和皮质醇（7名，87.5%）。6人的最后一次血液样本测试显示以下显著增加：NK细胞活化（5，83%），NK细胞数量（3，50%），β-内啡肽（4，67%），ACTH（3，50%）和皮质醇（3，50%）。在PGC士气量表和主观幸福感量表上，有三个人（50%）比第一次测量显着增加。这些结果表明，笑和快乐的经历对免疫功能和生活质量有一定的积极影响。

The purpose of this study was to clarify what effects laughter and happy experiences could have on the immune functions and QOL of the elderly under treatment. During the first stage, we conducted two experiments : the effects of karaoke [musical experience]. On the immune functions and the effects of watching a video comedy show on the immune functions of female college students, examining changes in the NK cells. The results showed that viewing a comedy show (positive fun) was related to a more significant increase of the NK cells than karaoke (active fun). Based on the results, we conducted the second stage using "live or video presentations of rakugo [comic monologue] and manzai [comic backchat]." We then examined the changes in the immune functions and QOL. The subjects were men and women of 70 years of age or above who were free of senility and staying in therapeutic units. Once a week, rakugo or manzai was presented and this was continued for 4 weeks. Before and after the presentation in the first and the fourth weeks, blood sample was taken and a questionnaire was administered. The first blood samples of 8 persons tested showed a significant increase in the following : NK cell activation (three subjects, 37.5%), the number of NK cells (six, 75%), β -endorphin (six, 75%), ACTH (six, 75%), and cortisol (seven, 87.5%). The last blood samples of 6 persons tested showed a significant increase in the following : NK cell activation (five, 83%), the number of NK cells (three, 50%), β-endorphin (four, 67%), ACTH (three, 50%), and cortisol (three, 50%). On the PGC Morale Scale and the Subjective Happiness Scale, three (50%) persons showed a significant increase over the first measurement. These results indicated that laughter and happy experiences exerted a somewhat positive effect on the immune functions and QOL.