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 whose research vision is "Healthy Lives for Healthy Living".
Over her career Ash has published >70 peer reviewed publications, book chapters and industry reports, she has also been awarded $8.2 million in funding with $3.7 million as CIA, including leading projects such as the ACTIVate study (NHMRF/MRFF funded), the Small Steps study (MRFF funded) and her recently initiated Rural ACTIVate study - Re ACTIVate (funded by Dementia Australia Research Foundation.
Ash leads a team of 19... 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 whose research vision is "Healthy Lives for Healthy Living".
Over her career Ash has published >70 peer reviewed publications, book chapters and industry reports, she has also been awarded $8.2 million in funding with $3.7 million as CIA, including leading projects such as the ACTIVate study (NHMRF/MRFF funded), the Small Steps study (MRFF funded) and her recently initiated Rural ACTIVate study - Re ACTIVate (funded by Dementia Australia Research Foundation.
Ash leads a team of 19 including directly supervising 3 post docs, 11 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 13 awards for excellence including UniSA Mid-Career Researcher of the Year (2022), an international research excellence award from the International Congress of Clinical Neurosciences and a South Australian Young Tall Poppy Award (2017).
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
Exercise physiology, Ageing, Neurophysiology,Cortical plasticity, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Cognition, Dementia prevention
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Small Steps towards dementia prevention, Medical Research Future Fund, 01/03/2023 - 28/02/2026
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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 |
44
40
120
|
| 2018 |
13
12
3
|
| 2017 |
Open access
54
42
57
|
| 2016 |
12
13
11
|
| 2014 |
117
114
16
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
|
| 2019 |
37
31
50
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
Open access
3
3
11
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
Open access
2
|
| 2024 |
Open access
3
1
3
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
3
394
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
7
|
| 2023 |
32
32
12
|
| 2023 |
Open access
8
21
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
16
|
| 2023 |
Open access
7
15
|
| 2022 |
Open access
7
7
1
|
| 2022 |
Open access
6
6
16
|
| 2022 |
14
13
6
|
| 2022 |
Open access
14
11
4
|
| 2022 |
Open access
31
27
20
|
| 2022 |
Open access
3
4
8
|
| 2022 |
Open access
2
2
5
|
| 2022 |
Open access
7
|
| 2022 |
2
2
4
|
| 2022 |
Open access
5
5
11
|
| 2021 |
163
164
23
|
| 2021 |
11
12
11
|
| 2021 |
Open access
12
10
39
|
| 2020 |
Open access
35
31
6
|
| 2020 |
Open access
79
74
11
|
| 2020 |
Open access
13
11
8
|
| 2020 |
Open access
5
6
20
|
| 2020 |
44
40
120
|
| 2020 |
Open access
64
32
|
| 2020 |
Open access
26
27
20
|
| 2020 |
Open access
5
5
48
|
| 2020 |
3
3
12
|
| 2019 |
18
18
5
|
| 2019 |
Open access
11
9
71
|
| 2019 |
Open access
96
89
19
|
| 2019 |
Open access
8
7
106
|
| 2019 |
Open access
11
14
7
|
| 2019 |
Open access
22
22
10
|
| 2018 |
Open access
4
4
22
|
| 2018 |
Open access
13
11
1
|
| 2018 |
13
12
3
|
| 2017 |
Open access
1
1
6
|
| 2017 |
Open access
30
28
7
|
| 2017 |
Open access
54
42
57
|
| 2016 |
Open access
8
8
1
|
| 2016 |
Open access
10
9
3
|
| 2016 |
12
13
11
|
| 2015 |
43
37
1
|
| 2015 |
10
10
1
|
| 2015 |
29
27
17
|
| 2014 |
Open access
18
13
|
| 2014 |
Open access
15
14
2
|
| 2014 |
117
114
16
|
| 2013 |
Open access
18
18
|
| 2012 |
Open access
43
40
|
| 2011 |
13
11
|
| 2011 |
Open access
104
98
|
| 2011 |
18
16
|
| 2011 |
Open access
34
32
|
| 2009 |
79
72
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2023 |
|
| 2019 |
|
| 2019 |
|
Research
Exercise physiology, Ageing, Neurophysiology,Cortical plasticity, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Cognition, Dementia prevention
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 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 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 |
|---|---|
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 |
MemberAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) |
2017 |
MemberSport Medicine Australia |
2017 |
MemberSociety for Neuroscience |
2017 |
MemberAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
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
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Building your best day for dementia prevention - longitudinal trajectories of dementia risk | Current |
| Not just `what¿ but `when¿: exploring the associations of temporal patterns of eating and sleeping with cognition in older Australian adults. | Current |
| Optimising dementia prevention in rural older Australians | 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 |
