Dr Greg Kennedy's early background was in the areas of IT, horticulture, and teaching. However, he was inspired to change career paths after witnessing his grandparents succumb to the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. The strong desire to play a part in efforts to alleviate the impacts of this terrible, distressing disease motivated him to return to university and study Psychology and Psychophysiology. This culminated in him running a clinical trial (the LIILAC Trial) into the effects of exercise and diet on cognitive ageing in older people for his PhD.
He has since focused my research on areas which he believe contribute towards a better understanding of neurocognitive ageing and dementia, the mechanisms which underlie them, and potential methods of prevention. To that end he is now a postdoctoral fellow and project manager for the MedWalk Trial. This large NHMRC funded clinical trial extends on his previous work, investigating the effects of exercise and dietary intervention on age-related cognitive and dementia risk in older Australians in Victoria and South Australia.
It is his strong intention to continue to pursue further research, and to promote public awareness and understanding, of this field throughout his career.
Greg was awarded the prestigious 2018 Alzheimer Award, selected by the editors of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease as the best article of 2017. He was the first person without a PhD, and the first from the Southern Hemisphere to win this award.
Experience
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–presentPostdoctoral Fellow in Neurocognitive Ageing Research, Swinburne University of Technology
Education
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2020Swinburne University of Technology, PhD
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2012Swinburne University of Technology, BA (Hons) Psychology
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2010Swinburne University of Technology, BSc (Psychology and Psychophysiology)
Publications
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2020The Effect of High Polyphenol Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Australian Adults (OLIVAUS): a randomized, controlled, cross-over study, Nutrition and Dietetics
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2020Findings of a Pilot Study Investigating the Effects of Mediterranean Diet and Aerobic Exercise on Cognition in Cognitively Healthy Older People Living Independently within Aged-Care Facilities: The Lifestyle Intervention in Independent Living Aged Care, Current Developments in Nutrition
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2020Modelling modifiable predictors of age-related cognitive decline : Exercise, aortic stiffness, and the importance of physical fitness, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports
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2019The association between adherence to a Mediterranean style diet and cognition in older people: The impact of medication, Clinical Nutrition
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2018Physical Fitness and Aortic Stiffness Explain the Reduced Cognitive Performance Associated with Increasing Age in Older People, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
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2016Adherence to a Mediterranean-Style Diet and Effects on Cognition in Adults: A Qualitative Evaluation and Systematic Review of Longitudinal and Prospective Trials, Frontiers in Nutrition
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2016How Does Exercise Reduce the Rate of Age-Associated Cognitive Decline? A Review of Potential Mechanisms, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease,
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2015A randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of Mediterranean diet and aerobic exercise on cognition in cognitively healthy older people living independently within aged care facilities: the Lifestyle Intervention in Independent Living Aged Care, Nutrition Journal
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2015The acute and sub-chronic effects of cocoa flavanols on mood, cognitive and cardiovascular health in young healthy adults: a randomized, controlled trial, Frontiers in Pharmacology
Professional Memberships
- Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART)
Honours
2018 Alzheimer Award
- @DrGregKennedy
- Article Feed
- gikennedy@swin.edu.au
- Joined
