A/Prof Ashleigh Smith is a Henry Brodaty Dementia Australia Research Foundation Mid-Career Research Fellow and the Deputy Director of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) Research Centre at the University of South Australia. Ash has a broad an unique skill set and expertise that encompasses neuroscience, exercise physiology and cognitive ageing.
Throughout her career, Ash has authored over 90 peer reviewed publications, book chapters and commissioned industry reports. She has also been awarded $9.8 million in research grants and fellowships with $3.7 million as lead Chief Investigator including funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF),... Read more
About me
A/Prof Ashleigh Smith is a Henry Brodaty Dementia Australia Research Foundation Mid-Career Research Fellow and the Deputy Director of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) Research Centre at the University of South Australia. Ash has a broad an unique skill set and expertise that encompasses neuroscience, exercise physiology and cognitive ageing.
Throughout her career, Ash has authored over 90 peer reviewed publications, book chapters and commissioned industry reports. She has also been awarded $9.8 million in research grants and fellowships with $3.7 million as lead Chief Investigator including funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), Dementia Australia Research Fund (DARF), and philothopic organisations.
Ash leads a team of 18 and directly supervises 3 post docs, 10 students and 5 research assistants. Ash and her team are passionate about reducing dementia risk in older adults most at risk of dementia by targeting modifiable dementia risk factors and translating that information into feasible and enjoyable intervention studies.
Her research excellence and outstanding community engagement in science has been recognised with over 14 awards for excellence including: a South Australian In-Daily 40 Under 40 award for leadership (2024), UniSA Mid-Career Researcher of the Year (2022), a South Australian Young Tall Poppy Award (2017) and an international Young Investigator Award for research excellence award from the International Congress of Clinical Neurosciences (2010).
Ash is available to discuss her research projects, collaborations and is actively seeking students interested in Masters by Research and PhD spanning the area of ageing, exercise and neurophysiology.
About me
Society for Neuroscience (SfN), Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG, South Australian committee), Sport Medicine Australia (SMA), National Institute for Dementia Research (NNIDR, ECR Fellows working group chair), EMCR Brain Science Network (Executive member), Australian Cognitive Neuroscience Society (ACNS), International Society of Vascular Behavioural and Cognitive Disorders (VasCog).
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 18/09/2018 |
Findings uncover exciting new intervention opportunities aimed at reducing the risk of dementia: NHMRC Media, https://beta.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/news-centre/findings-uncover-exciting-new-intervention-opportunities-aimed-reducing-risk-dementia |
| 22/04/2018 |
"The Today Show," with Lauren Tomasi, Forget me not, https://www.9now.com.au/today/2018/clip-cjgad1yz700160imkb66k4l3e |
| 14/02/2018 |
"Live at the Desk" with Will MacDonald, Forget me not, https://twitter.com/9NewsAdel/status/968371882956345344 |
| 14/09/2017 |
"Live at the Desk" with Alice Monfries, dementia prevention with virtual reality, https://www.facebook.com/9NewsAdelaide/videos/1752666371703991/ |
| 14/08/2017 |
Dr Ashleigh Smith: South Australian Young Tall Poppy Finalist, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa4E3Dm1zKs |
| 15/08/2016 |
Research Themes: Development of a neurovascular marker of cognitive impairment, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyzlFR6HICE |
| 19/10/2015 |
$43 Million to continue search for a cure to dementia, https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/media/releases/2015/43-million-continue-search-cure-dementia |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) The University of Adelaide
Bachelor Science (Honours) The University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) The University of Adelaide
Dementia risk reduction, cognition, physical activity, sleep, sedentary behaviour, compositional data analysis.
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Small Steps towards dementia prevention, Medical Research Future Fund, 01/03/2023 - 28/02/2026
My Best Day for Knee OA, Arthritis Australia - Project Grants, 03/02/2025 - 31/12/2025
Living your best day- Optimising activity and diet compositions for dementia prevention, NHMRC - Boosting Dementia Research Grants, 01/12/2019 - 30/11/2025
Dementia Australia Research Foundation Scholarship, Dementia Australia Research Foundation, 10/02/2020 - 10/08/2023
Evaluation of the Daily Moves Program, City of Unley, 05/08/2019 - 31/07/2022
Optimising exercise prescription for brain health in older adults at risk of dementia, NHMRC - ARC Dementia Research Development Fellowship, 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2019
Active video gaming to increase physical activity in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome, The Judith Jane Mason and Harold Stannett Williams Memorial Foundation, 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2019
City of Unley Dementia Friendly Cities, City of Unley, 01/07/2016 - 30/06/2017
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
5
6
9
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2023 |
Open access
8
8
14
|
| 2022 |
Open access
7
7
11
|
| 2020 |
Open access
46
42
120
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
|
| 2019 |
42
35
57
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
|
| 2024 |
Open access
5
6
9
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
1
|
| 2024 |
Open access
2
3
5
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
4
3
3
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
6
4
395
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
7
|
| 2023 |
40
37
12
|
| 2023 |
Open access
15
15
22
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
2
15
|
| 2023 |
Open access
8
8
14
|
| 2022 |
Open access
10
8
1
|
| 2022 |
Open access
7
7
16
|
| 2022 |
Open access
15
13
5
|
| 2022 |
Open access
18
15
4
|
| 2022 |
Open access
35
32
19
|
| 2022 |
Open access
5
6
6
|
| 2022 |
Open access
2
2
5
|
| 2022 |
Open access
5
|
| 2022 |
Open access
2
2
4
|
| 2022 |
Open access
7
7
11
|
| 2021 |
Open access
187
185
25
|
| 2021 |
Open access
14
13
10
|
| 2021 |
Open access
12
10
42
|
| 2020 |
Open access
39
35
6
|
| 2020 |
Open access
86
78
11
|
| 2020 |
Open access
15
12
7
|
| 2020 |
Open access
5
6
18
|
| 2020 |
Open access
46
42
120
|
| 2020 |
Open access
80
30
|
| 2020 |
Open access
30
30
20
|
| 2020 |
Open access
7
6
48
|
| 2020 |
Open access
3
3
12
|
| 2019 |
20
20
5
|
| 2019 |
Open access
11
9
68
|
| 2019 |
Open access
109
98
19
|
| 2019 |
Open access
10
10
105
|
| 2019 |
Open access
13
15
7
|
| 2019 |
Open access
24
24
10
|
| 2018 |
Open access
5
5
22
|
| 2018 |
Open access
14
11
1
|
| 2018 |
13
12
3
|
| 2017 |
Open access
1
1
5
|
| 2017 |
Open access
32
29
7
|
| 2017 |
Open access
58
44
55
|
| 2016 |
Open access
8
8
1
|
| 2016 |
Open access
10
9
3
|
| 2016 |
13
13
11
|
| 2015 |
47
41
1
|
| 2015 |
10
10
1
|
| 2015 |
30
27
16
|
| 2014 |
Open access
19
13
|
| 2014 |
Open access
16
15
5
|
| 2014 |
120
116
16
|
| 2013 |
Open access
18
18
|
| 2012 |
Open access
43
40
|
| 2011 |
13
11
|
| 2011 |
Open access
107
101
|
| 2011 |
18
16
|
| 2011 |
Open access
36
34
|
| 2009 |
80
72
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2023 |
|
| 2019 |
|
| 2019 |
|
Research
Dementia risk reduction, cognition, physical activity, sleep, sedentary behaviour, compositional data analysis.
South Australian Young Tall Poppy (2017), EMCR Brain Science Network National Steering Committee member (2017-current), Australian Association of Gerontology (Organising comittee member 2015-current, national ECR committee 2016-2017), Australian Cognitive Neurosience Society (ACNS) conference local organising comittee 2017, Frontiers for Young Minds (Review Editor),
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| AdventHealth Research Institute | FLORIDA |
| Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
| Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | AUSTRALIA |
| Brown University | UNITED STATES |
| CSIRO Australia (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research organisation) | AUSTRALIA |
| Deakin University | AUSTRALIA |
| École Normale Supérieure de Rennes | FRANCE |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Griffith University | AUSTRALIA |
| Humboldt University Berlin | GERMANY |
| Hunter Medical Research Institute, Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Marquette University | UNITED STATES |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Murdoch University | AUSTRALIA |
| Newcastle University, United Kingdom | UNITED KINGDOM |
| North Dakota State University | UNITED STATES |
| OCHIN | UNITED STATES |
| Queensland Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
| Royal Adelaide Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Shenzhen University | CHINA |
| South Australian Health and Medical and Research Institute (SAHMRI) | AUSTRALIA |
| Tung Wah College | CHINA |
| University College London | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of British Columbia | CANADA |
| University of Hong Kong | HONG KONG |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | UNITED STATES |
| University of Leeds | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Leicester | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Lyon | FRANCE |
| University of Maastricht | NETHERLANDS |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Michigan | UNITED STATES |
| University of New England | AUSTRALIA |
| University of New South Wales | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
| University of North Dakota | UNITED STATES |
| University of Nottingham | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Pittsburgh | UNITED STATES |
| University of Potsdam | GERMANY |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Victoria | CANADA |
| University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Westminster | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Victoria University | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Australasian Rising Star KeynoteAustralasian Dementia Research Forum |
2024 |
In Daily 40-under-40 awardIn Daily |
2024 |
Keynote speakerAustralasian Brain Stimulation Society |
2021 |
NHMRC-ARC Dementia Accelerator Working Group ChairNHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research |
2019 |
NHMRC-ARC Dementia Accelerator Working Group ChairNHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research |
2018 |
Organising committee memberAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2018 |
Steering Committee MemberEMCR Brain Science Network National |
2018 |
MemberSport Medicine Australia |
2017 |
MemberAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) |
2017 |
MemberAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2017 |
MemberSociety for Neuroscience |
2017 |
Member, National ECR CommitteeAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2017 |
Organising committee memberAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2017 |
Steering Committee MemberEMCR Brain Science Network National |
2017 |
Young Tall Poppy Award (SA)Australian Institute of Policy and Science |
2017 |
IRP Matching Grant AwardSalimetrics |
2016 |
Member, National ECR CommitteeAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2016 |
Organising committee memberAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2016 |
Organising committee memberAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2015 |
UniSA Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Self Assessment Team (SAT, 2017-current)
National Institute for Dementia Research (NNIDR) Fellowship working group (Co-Chair, 2018-current)
Neuroscience and Neuroplasticity, Muscle Physiology, Ageing and Rehabilitation, Motor Control and Learning.
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Addressing Dementia Risk in Rural Australia | Current |
| Building your best day for dementia prevention - longitudinal trajectories of dementia risk | Current |
| Concussion in Women's Australian Rules Football | Current |
| Not just `what¿ but `when¿: exploring the associations of temporal patterns of eating and sleeping with cognition in older Australian adults. | Current |
| 24-hour time use, cognitive function and brain health in older adults | Completed |
| Cultivating farmer health: development, evaluation and application of a novel help-seeking scale for farmers | Completed |
| Developing workplace exercise intervention strategies for Australian police officers | Completed |
| Effort perception in exercise testing and prescription: implications for patients with cardiac conditions | Completed |
| Exploring the impact of age and acute aerobic exercise on non-invasive measures of neuroplasticity | Completed |
| Investigating cognitive outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery | Completed |
| Nourishing the mind: exploring the relationship between dietary patterns, cognition, and brain volume in older adults | Completed |
| Perceptual and affective responses during virtual reality exercise | Completed |
| The neural contribution to pain and motor function, and the influence of habitual physical activity in people with knee osteoarthritis | Completed |
| The relationship between blood pressure variability, cognitive functioning and brain health in older adults | Completed |
