October 10 is World Mental Health Day – a day to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world. This World Mental Health Day we spoke with Dr Andrea Ricciardiello, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Sleep and Circadian Group at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. Her research focuses on how sleep disturbances affect memory and emotional processing in older adults with depression. She is currently investigating the use of brain stimulation during sleep as a novel intervention to improve cognitive performance in individuals with sleep disorders.
Dr Andrea Ricciardiello
Despite clear evidence connecting sleep disturbances with mental health disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, research on this issue in older adults remains limited. Dr Ricciardiello’s work addresses this gap by exploring how changes in sleep architecture, particularly reduced deep sleep, may contribute to both cognitive decline and the persistence of depressive symptoms. Her work aims to identify sleep-based targets that could be modified to enhance daytime functioning and improve mental health outcomes.
In addition to her research, Dr Ricciardiello plays an active role in the scientific community. She serves on two national sleep association committees: the Sleep Down Under Conference Committee and the Australia and New Zealand Sleep Science Association’s Conference, Grants and Awards Committee. In these roles, she helps organise national conferences and supports initiatives to uplift and recognise sleep researchers across the region. Within the Woolcock Institute, she is also a member of the Nextgen Early Career Research Committee, advocating for the development and visibility of early-career researchers.
Dr Ricciardiello emphasises the importance of understanding sleep disturbance not just as a symptom, but as a potential driver of mental health issues such as depression. Poor sleep is linked to both the onset and recurrence of depression and is associated with impaired cognitive function. By targeting sleep, her research hopes to pave the way for more effective interventions that improve both brain health and quality of life in older adults.
“Sleep is a vital foundation for mental health across the lifespan. Sleeping well may support better memory and emotion processes, especially as we age” – says Dr Ricciardiello.
The ASMR is proud to share the stories of these inspiring Australian researchers. If you or someone you know are doing amazing things in health and medical research, please let us know at media@asmr.org.au!