K17 — April 2010 — Happiness Goes Viral

Intro: What is it about laughter that's contagious? Sometimes you just can't stop from smiling when you hear or see it. Last September, an elderly couple from Iowa infused the internet with laughter and joy. Their random act of happiness at Mayo Clinic hit You Tube and made more than 6 million people smile. And that, say Francis and Marlow Cowan, is what keeps them young.

(MUSIC) "THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. YOU KNOW IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE. WE'RE LUCKY TO BE ANY PLACE AT OUR AGE."

(MUSIC, LAUGHTER) "WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE IS HAVE A LITTLE FUN WITH MUSIC."

MARLOW AND FRANCIS COWAN ARE AT MAYO CLINIC GIVING AN ENCORE PERFORMANCE OF AN IMPROMPTU DUET THAT WENT VIRAL ON THE INTERNET. PEOPLE ALL OVER THE GLOBE WATCHED IT.

"IT'S AMAZING TO US HOW WE COULD REACH OVER 6 MILLION PEOPLE JUST DOING A LITTLE PIANO DUET."

"YOUTUBE. YOUTUBE. WHATEVER THAT THING WAS. WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT THING WAS. WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. (LAUGHTER)."

"WE PLAY TOGETHER AND WE PRAY TOGETHER AND WE HAVE FUN TOGETHER."

"I THINK GOD HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR."DR. PAUL TAKAHASHI IS A FAN OF THE COWAN'S. HE SAYS THEY'VE GOT IT RIGHT — HAPPINESS, BEING ACTIVE AND STAYING CONNECTED HELP YOU LIVE LONGER.

"THE COWANS HAVE VERY POSITIVE ENERGY. PEOPLE WHO ARE POSITIVE TEND TO DO A LITTLE BETTER OVER ALL IN LIFE AND THAT'S BEEN STUDIED. PEOPLE TEND TO LIVE A LITTLE LONGER AND LIVE A LITTLE BETTER WHEN THEY'RE POSITIVE."

BEING POSITIVE, HAPPY AND ACTIVE AS YOU AGE WILL CERTAINLY HELP YOU MEET PEOPLE AND MAKE FRIENDS, BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR YOUR BRAIN AND BODY. IT KEEPS YOUR BRAIN IN SHAPE BY ACTIVATING BRAIN CELLS CALLED NEURONS AND IT IMPROVES BLOOD FLOW WHICH IS GOOD FOR YOUR BLOOD VESSELS, MUSCLES AND ORGANS.

"ANY OF YOU PEOPLE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LOVE?"

LOVE AND LAUGHTER AND THE LORD. THAT'S WHAT THE COWAN'S SAY HAS KEPT THEM GOING THROUGH DECADES OF MARRIAGE.

"WHEN WAS IT? OH, GEEZ, I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. 63 YEARS."

AND THROUGH ALL THOSE YEARS THEY SPREAD THAT JOY. (MUSIC) AND IN THE PROCESS HAVE MADE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE SMILE. "THANK YOU." [APPLAUSE]

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag:

Marlow and Francis Cowan gave the performance that went out on the internet when they were at Mayo Clinic for check ups. It just goes to show you, you never know when a spontaneous act like playing a duet, can make people smile. To watch the Cowan's performances, visit our Website at…

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