Dr Helen Macpherson is an Associate Professor at Deakin University and Dementia Australia Research Foundation Mid-Career Research Fellow. Dr Macpherson’s research examines healthy brain ageing, dementia prevention, and digital health, with a particular focus on how modifiable health behaviours support cognitive function across the lifespan. She is internationally recognised for her work on diet and brain health, advancing understanding of how dietary patterns—such as the Mediterranean diet and overall diet quality—influence brain structure, cognitive ageing, and dementia risk.

Dr Macpherson has led clinical trials and large-scale population studies investigating nutritional interventions, demonstrating that healthier midlife diets are linked to better brain health and reduced neurodegeneration. Her work also explores the biological pathways connecting nutrition and cognition, contributing to evidence-based dietary recommendations for dementia prevention.