Associate Professor Simone Reppermund | Meet Our Researcher Series

Simone Reppermund’s research focuses on improving the health outcomes of older adults, particularly in the context of dementia. With a background in neuropsychology, she is developing a computerised tool to assess daily living activities, which will help clinicians make more accurate, objective diagnoses of cognitive decline. Simone is also investigating the social determinants of health in ageing populations, aiming to address inequities in brain health, especially within Australia’s diverse society. Her work ultimately seeks to enhance diagnostic accuracy and quality of life for older people.

How did you first get into research?

Initially, I began studying psychology with the intention of becoming a developmental psychologist and working clinically with children. However, in my final year of university (2003), I was offered a research assistant job in neuropsychology, and from there I was hooked. It was at this point that I decided to move away from a clinical career and pursue a PhD instead. 

Did you experience a ‘defining moment’ which led you to this field?

While completing my PhD, which focused on cognitive function in people with major depression, I had an interesting career defining moment. I was assessing an older person with depression, and he displayed symptoms very similar to those of someone with dementia.

When interviewing and testing people with depression, they often show signs of sadness, withdrawal, and issues with concentration. But this individual had severe cognitive impairment, as well as difficulty living independently. It seemed like he had dementia, not depression. However, when I followed up six months later after he had recovered from his depression and was on medication, he had improved significantly, and his test results were within the normal range. That was a real "aha" moment for me. Around the same time, I finished my PhD and saw an opening for a study coordinator position with CHeBA’s Sydney Memory and Ageing Study. I applied, moved from Germany to Australia, and that was 16 years ago. What was originally planned as a one-year position ended up becoming a lifelong career for me. 

What are you currently researching?

I am currently working on two main research programs. One is to develop and validate a computerised assessment to assess instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), which are complex activities that we all need to be able to do to live independently, such as shopping, using the phone or managing medications. The tool will allow remote administration, which will increase the accessibility for patients who can’t attend clinical visits, particularly those in remote areas. It will also make data collection and reporting easier for clinicians, aiding in clinical referrals and improving communication across different settings. My team and I are currently running a validation study with participants from three groups: those with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. The study will conclude at the end of the year, and we expect the tool to be freely available for clinicians in 2026.

The other research program I’m working on focuses on the social determinants of health in ageing and dementia. These are factors like where people are born, live and access healthcare, and are shaped by factors like social policies, economics and politics. We study these in longitudinal ageing studies, aiming to improve health outcomes and quality of life for older adults and address inequities in brain health, especially in Australia’s diverse society.

Why is your research important?

Currently, many clinicians rely on self or informant reports, which can be biased and subjective. Our goal is to create a performance-based, objective assessment that can be done on a computer, offering a more reliable measure of IADL performance. This could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of cognitive impairment, especially for individuals without family members to provide input. 

The research program focusing on social determinants of health is equally important because social determinants significantly contribute to health inequities and disparities, impacting overall quality of life. It’s estimated that up to 45% of the risk for dementia can be explained by modifiable risk factors. While social determinants have been well studied in younger people, the ageing population has been neglected in this area, particularly in Australia. Other countries like the UK and Canada have already implemented relevant programs, but Australia still has some catching up to do. 

What do you love about working for CHeBA?

I really love working at CHeBA. I actually started here, left, and then came back, which shows how much I enjoy it. It is wonderful working with people from diverse backgrounds, including psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, and experts in neuroimaging, genetics and communications. We’re all united by our passion for ageing and dementia research, which is amazing and I like the collegial atmosphere. Here at CHeBA, people are always willing to help one another. When I started as a junior researcher 16 years ago, I had incredible mentors, and now I’m proud to have reached a position to be able to mentor others. I find that aspect of my work extremely rewarding.

What is the ultimate hope you have for your research?

My ultimate hope is that my research contributes to the improvement of health outcomes and quality of life for older people. I hope that our research will not only make the diagnostic process easier, but that we also discover an increasing number of protective and risk factors for dementia, so as to enable the greatest impact on people's lives.