At the time I write this, more than 80 percent of Americans 65 years and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 65 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One in three people in the United States over the age of 18 is fully vaccinated, and more than half of American adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine. By the time you read this, those numbers will undoubtedly be higher, getting us closer to 70 to 85 percent of the total population, a mark that Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, hopes will protect us with herd immunity.
Those increasing numbers are worth celebrating: A recent CDC study shows that once a person is fully vaccinated, the risk of infection is reduced by up to 90 percent. Data also suggest that the vaccine offers protection against the COVID-19 variants currently circulating around the country. However, despite the remarkable effectiveness of the vaccines, many people are still hesitant to get immunized. Our feature “Experts Address COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy” identifies and addresses common concerns.
For my family and me, as well as many fellow neurologists, getting the vaccine has allowed us to be with other fully vaccinated friends and relatives. It has also allowed us to start reclaiming the happy, silly, wondrous, and funny elements of life that used to tickle our fancy before the pandemic. What struck me most in a get-together with colleagues this spring—after more than a year of separation, anxiety, and grief—was the laughter that erupted repeatedly from the pure joy of seeing one another again. Its therapeutic value was undeniable.
Our cover story, “Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen Use Humor to Educate on Alzheimer’s Disease,” describes how Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen leverage their talent for entertainment and comedy to bring laughter to the normally serious and grim discussion of Alzheimer's disease and to enlighten a broader audience. They created a national nonprofit organization, HFC (originally Hilarity for Charity), to support families, educate young people about living a brain-healthy life, and inspire the next generation of Alzheimer's advocates. Indeed, scientific evidence suggests that humor provides multiple physiological benefits, including reducing levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and epinephrine, and activating the reward centers of the brain. Humor may also lessen pain, mitigate the harmful effects that result from stressful situations, and help people cope with illness.
In our Healthy Living department, we feature stories about adaptive yoga, anti-inflammatory foods, and a young woman with epilepsy and a brain tumor who dealt with bullying in a proactive way. In Pictures of You, we share an inspiring story about how a newfound passion for Ping-Pong helped a woman cope with her diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. This issue also provides expert information on POTS and Other Autonomic Disorders" href="/link/c6beb346e44e4fea978c994a97b79afb.aspx">hard-to-diagnose conditions called dysautonomias and a feature titled “New Treatments May Reduce Severity and Frequency of Migraine,” on how the pandemic has exacerbated migraine triggers while the coronavirus has produced new cases.
And don't miss the story about a wonderful new documentary in which caregivers share their experiences with the people they love and care for who have dementia. Yes, humor helps them get through many challenging times. To view a trailer for It's Not a Burden, read the article.
As you reclaim your happiness, we want to hear from you about what has made you smile and laugh in life after vaccination. You also can tag us on social media at @BrainandLifeMag. Finally, to see a sweet moment with the Rogens, read the feature story.
Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief
