DBS Foundation partners Singapore University of Social Sciences; commits SGD 8.95 million to drive reminiscence engagements to prevent cognitive decline and contribute towards addressing dementia in Asia

Date: 30 Nov 2025

  • DBS Foundation’s funding will scale outreach to 11,500 seniors over four years, and lay the foundation for sustainable growth through capacity-building and research

SINGAPORE, 30 November 2025 – DBS Foundation has partnered the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) to enhance and expand the access of reminiscence engagements to prevent, or slow, the onset of cognitive decline among seniors in Asia. This is the latest in the DBS Foundation’s stepped-up efforts this year to address the needs of ageing societies and help shape a future where everyone, regardless of age or circumstance, can age well with dignity, purpose and joy.

Group Shot with SM Lee at SUSS DBSF Event

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, representatives from DBS Foundation and SUSS, trained facilitators from community partners Lions Befrienders, TOUCH, Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital and SG Assist, and participating seniors pose for a group photo at the DBS Foundation X SUSS booth, which was part of an active ageing showcase at the newly reopened Ang Mo Kio Community Centre this morning.

In Singapore, 1 in 11 persons aged 60 and above may have dementia1, which refers to the loss of cognitive functions such as memory, thinking and reasoning to the extent that it interferes with daily life. This aligns with global trends: 50 million people worldwide were living with dementia in 2018, a number expected to triple to 152 million by 2050.

DBS Foundation is committing SGD 8.95 million to fund the four-year DBS Foundation X SUSS Memory and Cognitive Health Community Programme, which includes two components: scaling the rollout of reminiscence engagements to 11,500 seniors across the region, and the development of the Asia Reminiscence Hub to focus on capacity-building and research for sustainable, long-term growth.

This will be rolled out in phases across the DBS Foundation’s key markets2, making this its first regional community programme. In each market, DBS Foundation and SUSS will work with community partners – including non-profit organisations, active ageing centres and the wider eldercare sector – to avail reminiscence facilitation to the seniors they serve, and with institutes of higher learning to drive research. To date, the programme has been introduced in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Reminiscence engagements: Improving cognitive and emotional health

A common practice and tool in gerontology, reminiscence improves seniors’ mental and emotional health by helping them to remember and connect with their past, increase social engagement and improve overall wellbeing.

Research shows that when reminiscing about the past, the flow of blood to the brain’s prefrontal cortex can increase by up to 80 times compared to when having everyday conversations. This stimulates an increase in brain function, potentially slowing cognitive decline and easing symptoms of depression3. A 2024 pilot by SUSS mirrored these findings – for example, seniors’ ability to remember where they put their things rose by 21% after engaging in reminiscence activities for eight months.

Seniors Engaging in VR Activities at SUSS DBSF Event

Seniors trying out a virtual reality reminiscence demo, where they are shown images of iconic places and moments and guided to share their memories about these. This virtual reality option will be made available to seniors who are frail or have limited mobility, to ensure ease of participation and inclusion for all.

The DBS Foundation X SUSS Memory and Cognitive Health Community Programme thus aims to prevent or slow cognitive decline among 11,500 seniors by engaging them in reminiscence activities – structured sessions where trained facilitators take groups of seniors through a guided recollection of their lives, helping them to recall memories, share stories and build meaningful bonds with one another over time.

Led by trained facilitators and supported by DBS employee volunteers, these sessions will be conducted in-person at community partners’ spaces. Seniors will be engaged regularly through weekly or bi-weekly sessions over a period of six to twelve months. To ensure inclusion, a virtual reality option will be made available, enabling participation by seniors who are frail or have limited mobility.

Beyond cognitive stimulation, this also benefits emotional health as recalling memories sparks joy; social connections are also bridged as these seniors continue to meet, interact and share with their peers on a regular basis.

DBS Foundation’s funding will also support the development of new reminiscence resources. These include card and board games to drive more varied and enriching sessions, as well as community spaces to enable members of the public – such as caregivers and other older adults who may find this useful – to experience and benefit from reminiscence activities too.

Reminiscence Hub: Laying the foundation for scalable, sustainable growth

The programme will also focus on capacity-building and research: the building blocks for sustainable and scalable rollout of reminiscence activities in the long run.

SUSS will lead longitudinal research efforts to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the reminiscence approach, continually refining programme design, delivery and outreach. Complementing this, regional seminars, in-market communities of practice and a virtual repository will be established to support resource-sharing and cross-learning.

To support scaling up of reminiscence engagements whilst expanding opportunities for the wider community to participate, a Reminiscence Facilitation Certification Course will be made available to interested parties who are keen to volunteer as facilitators. Separately, DBS Foundation and SUSS will partner relevant agencies to identify suitable candidates from more vulnerable backgrounds including active older adults, caregivers and persons with disabilities. This is to enable them to take on remunerated facilitator roles while contributing meaningfully to the community.

Karen Ngui, Head of DBS Foundation, said: “At its heart, this partnership is about honouring every individual and what defines them – their memories, their identity – and empowering them to continue leading rich and joyful lives as they age. By building pathways to support seniors’ cognitive and emotional health, we hope to help them remain connected to the moments and relationships they treasure. DBS Foundation is glad to work with SUSS, as well as the wider ecosystem of community partners, academia and trained facilitators across the region who are driving this forward with us, bringing our strengths together in a shared mission to enrich ageing societies. Through this partnership, we hope to inspire new models of care and community support, and shape a future where everyone can age with purpose, dignity and joy.”

Professor Tan Tai Yong, President, SUSS, said “Ageing well is a shared community responsibility. At SUSS, we believe in community-engaged research and practice that uplift older adults in meaningful ways. Through our partnership with DBS Foundation, we want every senior to experience connection, confidence and joy to support their cognitive and emotional health. By empowering reminiscence facilitators and fostering inclusive communities, we can help older adults stay resilient, socially engaged, and live with dignity and purpose.”

The DBS Foundation X SUSS Memory and Cognitive Health Community Programme was part of an active ageing showcase at the newly reopened Ang Mo Kio Community Centre this morning.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong was present to interact with residents and explore the activities onsite. At the DBS Foundation X SUSS booth, he observed how seniors engaged in activities such as ‘My Home, My Singapore’ – a specially designed card game featuring nostalgic Singaporean memorabilia such as the ‘kopi sock’ and student concession pass, which invites seniors to recall memories and exchange personal stories about these items in a game format – as well as a virtual reality reminiscence demo.

This latest partnership with SUSS follows other efforts by the DBS Foundation to address needs along the life course and empower everyone to thrive and age well, for which recent examples include:

 

1 imh.com.sg/Newsroom/News-Releases/Documents/WISE 2 Press Release_28Aug_IMHFINAL.pdf

2 Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, India

3 https://www.nhk.or.jp/archives/kaisou/en/