50 Times Elderly People Proved That They’re The Funniest Age Group (New Pics)

Aging is something that a lot of people are scared of. For some reason, we tend to fear the day when we start noticing grey hairs and wrinkles, and we try as hard as we can to stay looking youthful. But with age comes wisdom, and as the photos on this list prove, wisdom can come with a great sense of humor as well!

I’m lucky enough to still have two living grandparents, and I have to say that they’re both hilarious. Despite being in their 80s and 90s, they are both active, as sharp as ever and absolute riots. I’m not sure if they always intend to make hilarious jokes when they do, as sometimes their sass and sarcasm appear to come out so effortlessly. But they’re both joys to be around, and they inspire me to keep my sense of humor until my last day on Earth. 

Along with losing some of our physical capabilities as we age, the New York Post claims that our senses of humor start deteriorating as well. According to a Gallup poll, after 23, the amount of times that a person laughs or smiles on any given day starts to go downhill.

“We grow up, enter the workforce, and suddenly become ‘serious and important people,’ trading laughter for ties and pantsuits,” the authors of Humor, Seriously write. “Before long, we lose levity entirely in a sea of bottom lines, slide decks, and mind-numbing conference calls.”

Apparently, the pursuit of professionalism is one of the major reasons why people start becoming more serious and leave less time for laughter in their days. But this certainly doesn’t have to be the case. 

The amount of laughing and smiling that we do each day does start to decline after the age of 23, but it also sees an uptick after the age of about 80. And it keeps increasing until the end of a person’s life, even if that’s over the age of 100. But we should all be focusing on getting some more humor into our lives because it can actually be beneficial for our health. 

“It has this extraordinary impact on your physical health,” Jennifer Aaker, co-author of Humor, Seriously says. “It also makes others feel good. At a moment in time when we need to cultivate a culture of inclusivity and make others feel valued in more thoughtful ways, shared laughter is an incredible tool that we’re simply not using. And it’s free.”

Does getting old make people funnier, or does being funny make people live longer? It’s hard to say exactly, but according to Scientific American, women with a strong sense of humor have been found to live longer, even if they become ill, and elderly men who continue to laugh can even be protected against infections. A 15-year long study in Norway found that women with high humor scores had a 48% lower risk of death from all causes, as well as a 73% lower risk of death from heart disease. These funny women even had an 83% lower risk of death from infection.    

We’ve all heard that laughter is the best medicine, but it’s not simply something that your mother says to turn that frown upside down. There’s actually some truth to the statement. According to HelpGuide, laughter is a very powerful tool. It can relax our bodies, boost our immune systems, flood us with endorphins, protect our hearts from cardiovascular problems, burn calories, relieve stress and anger, and might even help us live longer. 

If you’re looking for a way to improve your mental health, laughter might be the simplest solution. HelpGuide explains that laughing can stop the negative emotions that a person may be feeling, including anger, anxiety and stress. It can also help us relax and recharge. Laughter can even help us shift our perspective on things. Being able to see the humor in any situation can make life much more manageable. And of course, laughter can draw us closer to friends and loved ones, as bonding over a joke or funny experience can be great for our relationships.