Dr Annabel Matison | Meet Our Researcher Series

Dr Annabel Matison’s research investigates how social and environmental factors —such as education, income, and neighbourhood conditions—influence healthy ageing and dementia risk. She also explores the relationship between nutrition and cognitive decline and hopes to one day see diet officially recognised as a modifiable risk factor for dementia. Ultimately, her hope is that factors like our race, where we live and the opportunities available to us don’t determine our risk of developing dementia.  

How did you first get into research?

Although I began my career in finance and worked as a chartered accountant in both firms and industry, I became increasingly interested in how nutrition influences health, especially due to having family members with diet-related conditions. This interest led me to change careers and pursue a Master’s in Human Nutrition. During my studies, I completed a research project exploring the relationship between protein intake and quality of life in older adults, which is when I really became drawn to research. After completing my Master’s, I went on to do a PhD at CHeBA and was subsequently offered a research position.

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

Unlike many others at CHeBA, I haven’t had a personal connection to dementia through my own family—my parents are both in their 80s and still mentally sharp. However, during my Master’s, I took a subject on nutrition for healthy ageing and was struck by how little I had previously understood about the link between nutrition, dementia risk, and mental health. It was a real eye-opener and made me realise how important and under-researched this area was. Although my own family wasn’t directly affected, I had friends whose parents were, and I saw firsthand the impact dementia can have on families. That moment really shaped my interest in the field.

Do you have any personal interests or activities which are protective behaviours against cognitive decline?

Not surprisingly, I focus a lot on nutrition as a protective behaviour. I follow a Mediterranean-style diet—while not strictly adhering to any one set way of eating, I prioritise fruits and vegetables and try to minimise processed foods. I’m also very active and enjoy exercise, particularly running and resistance training. I’ve completed around 10 half marathons and one full marathon. For the past 20 years, I’ve run weekly with a close-knit group of women, which has been just as much about social connection as physical health. I also have over 24 years of education, which is another known protective factor against cognitive decline.

What are you currently researching?

I’m currently researching the social determinants of health in ageing and dementia—essentially, how the environments in which people are born, live, and work can influence their risk of cognitive decline. One of my key projects explores social frailty, such as limited social contacts or low community engagement, and its link to increased dementia risk. I’m also involved in an international study examining how factors like education, occupational complexity, and wealth affect dementia risk. Other projects include research in Latin America on childhood food insecurity and its impact on later-life cognition, as well as investigations into how neighbourhood factors—like green space, public transport access, walkability, and air pollution—contribute to healthy ageing.

Why is your research important?

There is still limited awareness about how much social and environmental factors can influence dementia risk. Many people don’t realise that things like socioeconomic status, country of birth, or living in a disadvantaged neighbourhood can significantly impact cognitive health.

What do you love about working for CHeBA?

The diversity of backgrounds among the researchers is something I really enjoy at CHeBA. People come from such varied fields, which brings fresh perspectives and new ways of approaching long-standing problems. During my PhD, for instance, I had both a geneticist and a psychologist on my supervisory team—we explored how diet influences depression, how genetics impact dietary intake, and how we can use genetics to better understand eating behaviours. It’s that kind of interdisciplinary collaboration that makes CHeBA unique. I also really value the access we have to an exceptional range of longitudinal studies, including twin and centenarian cohorts, as well as international datasets. This is incredibly powerful for research into social determinants of health.

What is the ultimate hope you have for your research?

I also hope to see diet officially recognised as a modifiable risk factor for dementia. While it's generally accepted that nutrition plays a role, there still isn’t enough high-quality evidence for it to be formally acknowledged. More broadly, I want to see greater focus on the modifiable risk factors that account for over 50% of dementia risk—because even without a cure, we have the potential to delay its onset through prevention.Imagine if we could reduce the rate of overweight or obesity in Australia from 70% to 30%. What a difference that would make to the overall health of the population! People have the perception that this isn’t possible or feasible. We just need to be optimistic and ambitious about what we can achieve in public health.

_{^{Dr Annabel Matison is a Post Doctoral Research Fellow investigating the interplay between social determinants and health and ageing, with a focus on dementia. Originally trained as a chartered accountant, she transitioned into nutrition and public health after completing a Master of Human Nutrition at Deakin University. Annabel completed her PhD at UNSW in 2024, focusing on the links between nutrition, genetics, and depression in older adults. Using large international datasets, her work aims to inform policy and prevention efforts by addressing modifiable risk factors and health inequities in ageing populations.}}

Blog Category

Meet Our Researcher