Dr Vanessa
Zhu
Lecturer
Summary
Vanessa (Chen) Zhu completed her PhD on Menopause and Cognition at Her Centre Australia, Monash University, in 2024. Her research examined cognitive complaints, educational resources, and cognitive training during menopause, and included collaborations with the Action Lab on digital mental health interventions.
Her current work focuses on cognitive changes across menopause and evidence-based strategies to support women’s wellbeing. She is also interested in students’ mental health literacy, help-seeking behaviours, and co-design approaches for developing digital platforms that improve access and engagement in psychological care. Her ORCID is https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7926-2024
Research and Publications
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Zhu, C., Thomas, E. H., Arunogiri, S., Spector, A., Li, Q., & Gurvich, C. (2025). Factors associated with subjective cognitive symptoms during the menopause transition. Menopause, 10-1097. https:// DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002651
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Wu, L., Zhu, C., Seguin, J. P., Xie, J., Kulkarni, P., Li, M., & Olivier, P. (2025). Designing culturally adapted digital mental health support tool for international students: Qualitative studies with Chinese-speaking international students in Australia. JMIR Formative Research, 9, e76695.. https://doi.org/10.2196/76695
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Zhu, C., Thomas, E. H., Li, Q., Arunogiri, S., & Gurvich, C. (2025). Cut-off point development for the Everyday Memory Questionnaire–Revised in perimenopausal women. Climacteric, 28(1), 51-60. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2024.2401369
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Zhu, C., Arunogiri, S., Li, Q., Thomas, E. H., & Gurvich, C. (2024). Cognitive Training During Midlife: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neuropsychology Review, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-024-09649-z
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Zhu, C., Arunogiri, S., Thomas, E. H., Li, Q., Kulkarni, J., & Gurvich, C. (2024). The development and evaluation of a fact sheet resource for women managing menopausal-related cognitive complaints. Menopause, 10-1097. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000002434
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Zhu, C., Thomas, E. H., Li, Q., Arunogiri, S., Thomas, N., & Gurvich, C. (2023). Evaluation of the Everyday Memory Questionnaire-Revised in a menopausal population: Understanding the brain fog during menopause. Menopause, 30(11), 1147-1156. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000002256
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Zhu, C., Thomas, N., Arunogiri, S., & Gurvich, C. (2022). Systematic review and narrative synthesis of cognition in perimenopause: The role of risk factors and menopausal symptoms. Maturitas, 164, 76-86.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2022.06.010
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Gurvich, C., Zhu, C., & Arunogiri, S. (2021). Brain fog during menopause is real- it can disrupt women’s work and spark dementia fears. The Conversation. Published online on December 14, 2021. https://theconversation.com/brain-fog-during-menopause-is-real-it-can-disrupt-womens-work-and-spark-dementia-fears-173150