The Irish lab studies cognitive, behavioural and neuropsychiatric changes that occur in dementia, and their underlying mechanisms. We aim to transform the early and accurate diagnosis of dementia and improve patient outcomes.
Our primary objective is to understand the cognitive and behavioural changes that occur in neurodegenerative disorders and to determine the underlying mechanisms that give rise to such changes.
Grounded in cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychiatry, the lab investigates how complex processes such as memory, motivation, and goal-directed behaviour are disrupted in conditions such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. In doing so, we aim to develop new tools to improve the early and accurate diagnosis of these syndromes, with a view to improving patient outcomes.
Brain regions associated with apathy, anhedonia, and depression in dementia. Shaw et al. (2021).
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LinkMethods
Our methods are inherently multidisciplinary and synthesise approaches from cognitive neuroscience, experimental psychology, neuropsychiatry, and computer science to map the neurocognitive architecture of complex cognitive functions and understand their decline in dementia. Using advanced statistical and artificial intelligence models, we track the evolution of symptom progression, enabling us to identify personalised targets for intervention, with the long-term goal of improving quality of life for individuals affected by dementia.
Impact
Our lab collaborates closely with clinicians, aged care organisations, and research institutes such as the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney. The team also partners with industry groups and advocacy bodies focused on dementia care and brain health, working to ensure that research insights are translated into practice. These partnerships allow the lab to align scientific innovation with real-world needs, driving forward both discovery and impact.
Our research has a profound social impact due to the scope of cognitive, behavioural, and neuropsychiatric changes that occur in dementia. For example, memory and imagination are core to identity, decision-making, and social functioning, and their loss in dementia can be devastating for individuals and their families.
By deepening scientific understanding of how these cognitive domains deteriorate, the lab contributes to earlier diagnosis and more compassionate, personalised approaches to care. Additionally, the lab actively engages in public science communication, advocating for greater awareness of brain health and reducing stigma around dementia.
One of our primary focuses is the investigation of cognitive changes in both healthy aging and dementia. Using a combination of psychological, neuroimaging, and computational techniques, we aim to identify how cognitive processes such as memory, flexibility, and executive function change in relation to age and neurodegeneration.
Our goal is to uncover the neural mechanisms underlying these changes, exploring both the normal aging process and alterations linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Through these investigations, we provide valuable insights into early diagnosis, neural substrates, and therapeutic targets to support cognitive health in older adults.
In 2021, our landmark study demonstrated that the capacity to experience pleasure is markedly disrupted in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We showed that this loss of enjoyment (i.e. anhedonia) is not merely a symptom of depression but a distinct cognitive and neural disruption linked to degeneration in brain regions responsible for reward processing and future thinking.
We are now exploring the neural and behavioural mechanisms underlying anhedonia, with a view to clarifying how these changes relate to functional impairments in daily life.
In parallel with our fundamental research on understanding cognitive and motivational changes in frontotemporal dementia, we are focused on improving the early and accurate diagnosis of these syndromes.
We are currently developing a novel clinical tool aimed at enhancing the early and accurate diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The “MotDem” project focuses on identifying early features of anhedonia—a loss of interest or pleasure—as a key marker of FTD, with the goal of streamlining the diagnostic pathway for this debilitating form of younger-onset dementia.
In parallel with our efforts to transform the early detection of FTD, we are actively engaged in developing targeted interventions to improve access to support and reduce the physical and mental health burden associated with frontotemporal dementia. Working with the Sydney Dementia Network Lived Experience Expert Advisory Panel (SDN-LEEAP), we recently co-developed and co-designed a toolkit to assist carers in recognising and managing motivational disturbances in individuals living with dementia.
This toolkit has been translated into numerous languages, downloaded in over 50 countries and is featured on the World Health Organisation Dementia Knowledge Observatory. We further worked with Dementia Support Australia to translate our cutting-edge research into practical strategies for aged care providers to address apathy, loss of drive, and anhedonia - symptoms which are often misinterpreted as depression or behavioural issues.
Through these initiatives, we aim to offer practical knowledge and interventions that are co-designed with the dementia community. This codesign process is essential to ensure that our toolkits enhance the quality of life for those affected by dementia and support carers in delivering empathetic, person-centred care. These efforts reflect our commitment to bridging the gap between fundamental neuroscience research and real-world application, ensuring that scientific insights lead to tangible improvements in dementia care practices.
For information about opportunities to work or collaborate with us, please contact muireann.irish@sydney.edu.au.
