Research News

Exploring cognition in MND

Published: 8 December 2025

As a speech pathologist, Dr Rebecca Francis has seen first-hand how motor neurone disease steals not just movement, but connection.

“Almost everyone with MND will experience some impact on their ability to swallow or speak,” she explains. 

“Those changes affect so much more than physical function. It touches communication, quality of life and relationships.”

At Flinders University, Rebecca’s clinical experience and research work converge with a clear goal: to normalise clinical conversations about cognitive and behavioural changes (CBC) in MND and improve care for both people living with MND and their families.

Her PhD, completed in 2025, explored the interaction between cognitive and behavioural changes in MND and dysphagia (impaired swallowing), and clinical approaches for people and their families.

Dr Rebecca Francis, Flinders University

“Swallowing management strategies need cognitive engagement to enact, but it was unclear how cognitive changes in MND impacted these strategies,” she says.

“Understanding thinking and behaviour is important as it can not only impact how we manage swallowing problems, but it can also impact family relationships and people’s overall wellbeing. My goal is to improve care approaches for cognitive and behavioural changes and to normalise these conversations in MND care." 

"It’s also important to remember that CBC does not happen for everyone with MND and some people may experience mild changes to their thinking/behaviour, while others may experience more severe changes.”

Now, supported by funding from MND Australia and MND South Australia, Rebecca leads a national study focused on a key question: How do people want to learn about and manage cognitive and behavioural changes that may accompany MND.

By partnering with people living with MND and their families, her team seeks to co-design more effective information and support tools.

“People are telling us what works, what doesn’t, and how they envisage their care.”

Rebecca credits the Lived Experience Network (LEN), which connects researchers with people who want to participate in studies.

“Recruitment can be one of the hardest parts of research,” she says. “The Network has completely changed that. It allows us to hear directly from those living the reality of MND, ensuring their voices shape the science.”

For Rebecca, the impact goes beyond data and publications. It means equipping families with the tools to face an unrelenting disease with confidence and compassion.

"Every insight we gain helps clinicians communicate better, plan earlier, and make daily life easier,” she says.

“That’s what drives me, helping people to better understand MND and hopefully this understanding improves their wellbeing.

Read more stories about life with MND and the research to develop new treatments in the latest edition of Momentum.