The celebrated ‘Baahubali’ actress Anushka Shetty has recently shared her experience with a rare neurological condition known as pseudobulbar affect (PBA), commonly referred to as the ‘laughing disease’.
In a recent interview with Indiaglitz, the 42-year-old actress reportedly described how PBA affects her daily life and work. “I have a laughing disease. You might wonder, ‘Is laughing a problem?’ For me, it is. If I start laughing, I can’t stop for 15 to 20 minutes. While watching or shooting comedy scenes, I literally roll on the floor laughing, and the shoot has been halted many times,” Shetty said.
Pseudobulbar Affect is a condition characterized by sudden, uncontrollable bouts of laughing or crying that do not correspond to the individual’s actual emotional state. According to Dr. Sachin Adukia, a neurologist at The Hiranandani Hospital in Mumbai, these outbursts can occur in socially inappropriate settings and lead to significant distress, embarrassment, and social challenges. “PBA is part of a larger syndrome called Pseudobulbar Palsy, and it can also be associated with other neurological symptoms such as speech defects (dysarthria) and difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia),” Dr. Adukia explained to FirstPost.
The disorder stems from impairment in the neural pathways that control emotional expression. These pathways, which run from the brain’s cortex to the brainstem, may become damaged or inhibited by various conditions. “When these pathways are impaired, they can cause a mismatch between a person’s feelings and their way of expression,” added Dr. Adukia.
PBA can be triggered by neurological conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Alok Mandliya from Bombay Hospital, Indore, noted that the disorder can also arise from psychological reasons, where it is known as “maniac laughing.”
The condition primarily affects the older population and is considered “extremely uncommon” in younger individuals. Estimates from the Barrow Neurological Institute suggest that between two million and seven million people in the U.S. have experienced PBA symptoms.
Diagnosing PBA can be challenging due to symptom overlap with other emotional or psychiatric disorders such as depression or anxiety. A study in Springer Link found that only 41 percent of patients who reported episodes of uncontrolled laughing or crying to their doctors were accurately diagnosed with PBA.
Management of PBA involves both behavioral strategies and medication. “Deep, relaxed, and slow breathing can help during laughing episodes. Diverting your mind to another topic and relaxing the muscles around the shoulder, neck, and chest can also be beneficial,” advised Dr. Sudhir Kumar in a statement to The Indian Express. Moreover, support from friends and family, as well as professional counseling, plays a crucial role in managing the condition. Dr. Adukia also mentioned that specific medications can help control the symptoms, although they do not cure the condition.
Anushka Shetty’s openness about her battle with PBA highlights the impact of this little-known disorder and sheds light on the challenges faced by those living with it, including public figures.
