Case study evaluation of live music-assisted reminiscence therapy group for mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia among Chinese Malaysians

Authors

  • Yong Jia Lim Faculty of Communication and Creative Industries, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Justine Jian Ai Thong Department of Psychology, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Shu Yi Chung Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Zi Bin Teoh Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Xin Yi Lee Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Yoong Yiin Choy Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Alwin Ru Kiet Wong School Of Applied Psychology, Social Work & Policy, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, Malaysia.
  • Shean Yih Soh Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Jane Tze Yn Lim Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Norfazilah Ahmad Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Donald Hong Huang Yeo KALL Psychological & Counselling Services Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore.
  • Kah Hui Yap Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47513/mmd.v18i3.1088

Keywords:

Alzheimer's, dementia, music, reminiscence therapy, social prescribing

Abstract

Malaysia and its rapidly aging multi-ethnic population have an increasing need for culturally tailored dementia care. This study examined the feasibility of a live music-assisted reminiscence therapy group using culturally relevant Chinese music from the 1940s–1980s to support three Chinese Malaysian dyads of people with mild cognitive decline (mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia) and their caregivers. The intervention involved a single 60-minute session delivered by a professional clarinet quartet. Data were collected at baseline, and at one-week and four-week post-program. Outcome measures included the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, Zarit Burden Interview-Short, and the Gain in Alzheimer Care Instrument, assessing neuropsychiatric symptoms, caregiver burden, and caregiving gains, respectively. Quantitative data were analyzed using reliable change indices, while qualitative data from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Two dyads reported improvements in neuropsychiatric symptoms, while one dyad reported reduced caregiver burden and another reported increased caregiving gains. Four themes emerged regarding program impact: (1) improved mood and happy recollections, (2) improved quality of life, (3) cultural considerations, and (4) changes to program structure. This study lays the groundwork for live music-assisted reminiscence therapy groups in Malaysia and highlights directions for future research.

 

Keywords: cognitive impairment, dementia, music, reminiscence therapy, social prescribing.

Author Biographies

Yong Jia Lim, Faculty of Communication and Creative Industries, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Yong Jia Lim*, MMus, is a music lecturer at the Faculty of Communication and Creative Industries, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Justine Jian Ai Thong, Department of Psychology, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.

Justine Jian Ai Thong*, PhD, was a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia, and is now with the Department of Psychology, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.

Shu Yi Chung, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.

Shu Yi Chung, BPsych, is a research assistant at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.

Zi Bin Teoh, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.

Zi Bin Teoh, BPsych, is a research assistant at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.

Xin Yi Lee, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.

Xin Yi Lee, BPsych, is a research assistant at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.

Yoong Yiin Choy, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.

Yoong Yiin Choy, BPsych, is a research assistant and a student of the Master of Clinical Psychology program at the the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.

Alwin Ru Kiet Wong, School Of Applied Psychology, Social Work & Policy, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, Malaysia.

Alwin Ru Kiet Wong, MS, is a counselling graduate at the School of Applied Psychology, Social Work & Policy, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, Malaysia.

Shean Yih Soh, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.

Shean Yih Soh, DrPsych, is a psychiatrist and a medical lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia. 

Jane Tze Yn Lim, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Jane Tze Yn Lim, DrPsych, is a psychiatrist and a medical lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Norfazilah Ahmad, Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Norfazilah Ahmad, PhD, is an associate professor at the Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Donald Hong Huang Yeo, KALL Psychological & Counselling Services Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore.

Donald Hong Huang Yeo, DClinNeuro, is a clinical neuropsychologist at the KALL Psychological & Counselling Services Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore.

Kah Hui Yap, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia.

Kah Hui Yap, PhD, is a lecturer at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, HELP University, Selangor, Malaysia, and a clinical neuropsychologist at the Department of Rehabilitation, Allied Health Division, Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara, Selangor, Malaysia.

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Published

2026-07-26

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 3 (2026): July

Section

Full Length Articles