News
Dr
Nikki-Anne Wilson
Current Appointments
Conjoint Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Lecturer, UNSW School of Psychology
Key Research Areas
Nikki-Anne Wilson is a Lecturer in the UNSW School of Psychology and Research Fellow in the Australian Ageing Futures Institute, with a conjoint appointment at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA). She joined UNSW after completing a PhD with the FRONTIER younger onset dementia clinic at the Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney.
Dr Wilson's work aims to improve understanding of the mechanisms through which social interaction helps to support brain health across life. Her investigative approach spans a range of disciplines including cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, and neuroscience.
She leads an emerging research program investigating humour and laughter as key aspects of social cognition which drive social behaviour. This work has important implications for providing more targeted interventions to help maintain social connection as we age, identifying those potentially at risk for social isolation, and earlier diagnosis of brain diseases associated with changes in social behaviour.
Alongside her academic research, Nikki-Anne is a regular media commentator (e.g., Sydney Morning Herald, The Conversation, ABC Radio) and community speaker (e.g., Probus, Rotary).
Publications
2026, 02 Mar
Cohort profile: the Resilient Minds national study of mental health and cognitive resilience in community dwelling adults aged 18 to 93
View full journal-article on http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2026.1710349
2026, 01 Mar
Affiliate stigma in family members of people living with dementia: A cross-sectional study identifying protective factors
View full journal-article on https://app.dimensions.ai/details/publication/pub.1197280231
2025, 01 Dec
Avoiding Stigma in Dementia Prevention Discourse: Understanding Barriers and Harnessing Strengths.
View full journal-article on http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.296
2025, 01 Dec
Humor styles and subjective wellbeing in older adults: Identifying mediators and associated implications for healthy aging
View full journal-article on https://app.dimensions.ai/details/publication/pub.1191472132
2025, 01 Dec
Identifying Self-Reported Humor Style as a Potential New Direction in Cognitive Health: A Pilot Study
View full journal-article on http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.2050
2025, 01 Jan
Change in visual acuity over a 12-year period predicts cognitive decline in older adults: identifying social engagement as a potential mediator
View full journal-article on https://app.dimensions.ai/details/publication/pub.1182527198
2024 Jan
Disrupted social perception in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease – Associated cognitive processes and clinical implications
View full journal-article on http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2024.122902
2023, 01 Dec
Testing times for dementia: a community survey identifying contemporary barriers to risk reduction and screening
View full journal-article on https://app.dimensions.ai/details/publication/pub.1157136768
2023 Dec
The effect of baseline and longitudinal cognitive reserve on memory ageing in middle and older age adults over a 12‐year period
View full journal-article on https://app.dimensions.ai/details/publication/pub.1167335525
2023, 24 Sep
Dementia Prevention and Individual and Socioeconomic Barriers: Avoiding “Lifestyle” Stigma
View full journal-article on https://app.dimensions.ai/details/publication/pub.1164305543
Nikki-Anne's research projects and related news
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