My English name is Ann Way. My Vietnamese name is Tran Huynh Trieu An. I am originally from Vietnam (Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City) and have lived in Auckland and Aotea, Great Barrier Island, since 2014. I am a registered dance movement therapist, psycho educator and wellbeing facilitator in Auckland, New Zealand. With two masters in Fine Arts and Psychology, my work involves creative thinking and driving personal growth through evidence-based practices and innovative technology.
I am currently a PhD student at the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland, investigating the role of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) in reducing the risk of dementia. My research examines DMT as an approach to providing care and support to individuals living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who are at higher risk of developing dementia-related diseases. My doctoral research topic is of particular importance for women due to the strong research evidence that, amongst people with mild cognitive impairment, women progress to a more serious diagnosis of dementia at faster rates than men. This novel research has important implications for the increasing number of older adults with MCI seeking non-pharmacological evidence-based approaches to manage their cognitive health.