Sharon Naismith

Professor Sharon Naismith is the Leonard P Ullman Chair in Psychology at the University of Sydney’s School of Psychology. She leads the Healthy Brain Ageing Program at the Brain and Mind Centre and is a member of the Charles Perkins Centre. Her research focuses on dementia prevention, sleep disorders, and cognitive decline in ageing populations. She holds an NHMRC Dementia Leadership Fellowship and is a practicing Clinical Neuropsychologist.

Her work integrates clinical practice with translational research, addressing early intervention strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. Notable contributions include studies on sleep apnea’s role in dementia risk and the development of memory clinic protocols. She has been recognized as a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences (2023).

Recent grants include projects on sleep-circadian rhythm interventions, community-based dementia stigma reduction, and MRI methods for brain ageing studies. Her interdisciplinary approach spans clinical trials (e.g., DECIDE for cardiac surgery patients), music therapy for neuroplasticity, and telehealth protocols for remote diagnostics.

Awards and recognitions highlight her leadership in dementia research, including the Leonard P Ullman Chair and NHMRC Fellowships. She actively engages in public health initiatives through media appearances (e.g., Channel 9, ABC) and policy advocacy.