Sisters’ piano performances lift spirits at dementia village
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Min Luo, 12, and Fei Shan, 9, of Australia began playing piano for a family friend with dementia and noticed he became less stressed and more engaged when they performed.
They extended this practice to residents at the Korongee Dementia Village in Hobart, observing that music helped improve moods and encourage interaction.
Resident Nick Dickens, 75, who has frontotemporal and vascular dementia, said the sisters’ music made him “feel alive” and brought back positive memories of his time as a guitarist. The sisters observed that their friend with dementia responded positively to music, tapping his hand and humming along while they played. This led them to believe music could offer comfort and joy to others living with the condition.
Residents at the village responded to the concerts by tapping their feet, nodding, or simply appearing more engaged than usual. Associate Professor Alison Canty from the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre explained that the part of the brain responsible for musical memory is more resistant to the effects of dementia than other areas. Music can also trigger the release of dopamine, which improves mood and reduces stress.
In 2025, dementia became the leading cause of death in Australia, and experts predict nearly 1.1 million people will be living with the condition by 2065. The sisters plan to hold a concert to raise money for dementia research.
