Ming-Hung Hsu receives research grant for dementia project

The funds will support a groundbreaking research project exploring how music can improve the quality of life and promote independence for people with dementia and their caregivers.

The grant was formally presented by Leon Jarner's nephew, Harry-Sam Selikowitz, during the conference Music and Dementia: Building Bridges Between Research and Practice on Friday, 16 October 2026.

– This year’s project addresses the important questions: Why does music work for people with dementia, for whom, and under what circumstances? With a solid plan and a strong academic environment backing it, this project aims to provide the answers we need to use music more purposefully in care. The jury was impressed by the project’s clear objectives and methodological approach, said Selikowitz.

Improving Quality of Life

The project is led by Ming-Hung Hsu and initiated in collaboration with Karette Stensæth, the director of CREMAH. The project will be conducted as a realist synthesis, a method that combines existing research and practical experience to determine what works, for whom, and under what circumstances.

– We hope this research will help us better understand not just whether music-based interventions work, but how, why and under what circumstances they can improve quality of life and support independence, says Hsu.

Through the project, the researchers will combine international research knowledge with the experiences of people with dementia, their caregivers, and healthcare professionals. This also includes developing technology-supported solutions for everyday use.

– Ultimately, we want to use this knowledge to develop more personalised, accessible approaches that people living with dementia and their families can use in everyday life, says Hsu.

– The project builds on HOMESIDE, an international study across five countries, including Norway, that explored music activities at home with people living with dementia and their family caregivers. This new study could provide a theoretical foundation for integrating music into future approaches to care, including hospital-at-home services, Hsu adds.

The Potential of Music for Dementia

The Leon Jarner Memorial Fund is named after lawyer and music personality Leon Jarner, a pioneer in Norwegian musical life. The fund was established with proceeds from memorial concerts following his passing and promotes research on Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

This year’s call for proposals focused on how music and art can contribute to improving the quality of life for people with dementia.

– This award means a great deal to our team, not only because it enables us to take this important work forward, but also because it recognises the potential of music to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people living with dementia and their families, says Hsu.

The results of the study will not only contribute to the development of improved music-based interventions but also lay the foundation for future research projects within a strategic focus area for CREMAH.

We congratulate Professor Ming-Hung Hsu and CREMAH on receiving the research grant and look forward to the outcomes of their work!