Welcome to the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA)

Most of us think of dreams as immersive experiences. We run, talk, argue, or flee from danger in worlds conjured up entirely by our sleeping brains.  In the dominant theories of dreaming, this participation - our sense of being embodied and active within the dream world - is predominantly taken as essential.  

Ask Michael Shapiro how he was doing, and he’d flash that cheeky grin and say: “All things being equal, I’m okay. All things being unequal.… I’m still okay.”

Dr Saeed Shanehsazzadeh is a Research Associate with work spanning across nanotechnology, brain imaging, and neuroscience to advance early detection of dementia.

With dementia affecting over 57 million people globally, UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) is driving innovation through early-career researchers tackling underfunded areas like vascular dementia and the brain microbiome. 

Associate Professor Susanne Roehr’s research explores how systems—like healthcare, education, urban design, and social policy—shape our ability to live brain-healthy lives.

We honour the remarkable life of Thomas Matthew Sample (1920–2025) – a treasured participant in CHeBA’s Sydney Centenarian Study.

Dr Annabel Matison’s research investigates how social and environmental factors —such as education, income, and neighbourhood conditions—influence healthy ageing and dementia risk.