Yian Gu, MD, MS, PhD

  • Associate Professor of Neurological Sciences (in Neurology, Epidemiology in the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center and in the Taub Institute) at the CUMC
Profile Headshot

Profile Navigation

Overview

Dr. Yian Gu is an epidemiologist whose research focuses on the role of modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors in brain aging, cognitive aging, and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Her work examines diet and nutrition, physical activity, sleep, cardiovascular and environmental factors, and their relationships with cognitive health across the life course. A major focus of Dr. Gu’s research is identifying the biological mechanisms that link lifestyle factors with brain health. Her work integrates population-based epidemiology with neuroimaging, blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease, inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers, and measures of biological aging.

Academic Appointments

  • Associate Professor of Neurological Sciences (in Neurology, Epidemiology in the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center and in the Taub Institute) at the CUMC

Administrative Titles

  • Unit Leader, Neuroepidemiology Unit, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health
  • Member, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center Executive Committee
  • Co-Director, NIH T32 Neuroepidemiology Training Program

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • MD, Maternal and Child Health, Shanghai Medical University (China)
  • MS, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Fudan University (China)
  • PhD, Epidemiology, New York University, New York, NY

Committees, Societies, Councils

  • International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART)
  • American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

Editorial Boards

Past editorial roles include:

  • Guest Editor, Nutrients
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Associate Editor, Current Nutrition Reports
  • Editorial Board Member, Current Alzheimer Research

Honors & Awards

  • Diet and Cognition within a Reserve framework, National Institute on Aging, R01AG061008 (PI)
  • The role of inflammation in the association between diet and Alzheimer’s disease
  • NIH/National Institute on Aging, R01AG059013 (PI)
  • Diet in relation to brain and cognitive health in a middle-aged multiethnic population: nutritional implications for aging and Alzheimer's disease, NIH/National Institute on Aging, R56AG060156 (contact MPI, Gu/Scarmeas)
  • Dietary Factors and Neuroimaging Markers, NIH/National Institute on Aging, K99R00AG042483 (PI)

Research

Research Interests

  • Aging
  • Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline
  • Biomarkers of Risk and Progression in Alzheimer's disease
  • Cognitive Aging
  • Neuroimaging
  • Nutrition

Selected Publications

* corresponding author
  1. Gu Y, Honig LS, Kang MS, Reyes-Dumeyer D, Piriz A, Rivera Mejia D, Medrano M, Vardarajan BN, Lantigua RA, Mayeux R. Pathological heterogeneity in Alzheimer disease in adults of Caribbean Hispanic ancestry: The role of plasma P-tau217 and other biomarkers. Neurology Open Access. 2026;2(3):e000102. doi:10.1212/WN9.0000000000000102.
  2. * Bahl A, Honig LS, Kang MS, Sanchez D, Reyes-Dumeyer D, Manly JJ, Lantigua RA, Brickman AM, Vardarajan BN, Mayeux R, Gu Y. Plasma phosphorylated tau 181, vascular risk factors, and cognition in elderly Hispanics. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2026;111(4):1536–1546. doi:10.1177/13872877261443653.
  3. * Kalia V, Manz KE, Benavides J, Song S, Vollmer BL, Yan B, Goldsmith J, Pennell KD, Stern Y, Kioumourtzoglou MA, Miller GW, Habeck C, Gu Y. Mixture of organic pollutants is associated with cognitive aging. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2026;22(4):e71399. doi:10.1002/alz.71399.
  4. * Arif T, Thomas A, Belsky DW, Gu Y. Racial/ethnic differences in the association of lifestyle factors with biological aging in NHANES, 1999–2018. Journal of Gerontology: Series A. 2025;80(10):glaf194. doi:10.1093/gerona/glaf194.
  5. *Thomas A, Guo J, Reyes-Dumeyer D, Sanchez D, Scarmeas N, Manly JJ, Brickman AM, Lantigua RA, Mayeux R, Gu Y. Inflammatory biomarkers profiles and cognition among older adults. Scientific Reports. 2025;15(1):2265. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-86309-z.
  6. * Hoost SS, Honig LS, Kang MS, Bahl A, Lee AJ, Sanchez D, Reyes-Dumeyer D, Lantigua RA, Dage JL, Brickman AM, Manly JJ, Mayeux R, Gu Y. Association of dietary fatty acids with longitudinal change in plasma-based biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2025;12(5):100117. doi:10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100117.
  7. * Guo J, Gu Y. Nutrient-Wide Association Study for Dementia Risks: A Prospective Cohort Study in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. Nutrients. 2025;17(12):1960. doi:10.3390/nu17121960.
  8. * Thomas A, Ryan CP, Caspi A, Liu Z, Moffitt TE, Sugden K, Zhou J, Belsky DW, Gu Y. Diet, Pace of Biological Aging, and Risk of Dementia in the Framingham Heart Study. Annals of Neurology. 2024;95(6):1069–1079. doi:10.1002/ana.26900.
  9. Gu Y, Honig LS, Kang MS, Bahl A, Sanchez D, Reyes-Dumeyer D, Manly JJ, Dage JL, Lantigua RA, Brickman AM, Vardarajan BN, Mayeux R. Risk of Alzheimer’s disease is associated with longitudinal changes in plasma biomarkers in the multi-ethnic Washington Heights-Hamilton Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP) cohort. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2024;20(3):1988–1999. doi:10.1002/alz.13652.
  10. * Thomas A, Belsky DW, Gu Y. Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Biological Aging in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999-2018. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. 2023;78(9):1535–1542. doi:10.1093/gerona/glad082.
  11. Gu Y, Kociolek AJ, Fernandez KK, Cosentino SA, Zhu CW, Jin Z, Leverenz JB, Stern Y. Clinical Trajectories at the End of Life in Autopsy-Confirmed Dementia Patients With Alzheimer Disease and Lewy Bodies Pathologies. Neurology. 2022;98(21)-e2149. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000200259.
  12. Gu Y, Beato JM, Amarante E, Chesebro AG, Manly JJ, Schupf N, Mayeux RP, Brickman AM. Assessment of Leisure Time Physical Activity and Brain Health in a Multiethnic Cohort of Older Adults. JAMA Network Open. 2020;3(11). doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.26506.
  13. Gu Y, Gutierrez J, Meier IB, Guzman VA, Manly JJ, Schupf N, Brickman AM, Mayeux R. Circulating inflammatory biomarkers are related to cerebrovascular disease in older adults. Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation. 2019;6(1). doi:10.1212/NXI.0000000000000521.
  14. Gu Y, Manly JJ, Mayeux RP, Brickman AM. An Inflammation-Related Nutrient Pattern Is Associated With Both Brain and Cognitive Measures in a Multiethnic Elderly Population. Current Alzheimer Research. 2018;15(5):493–501. doi:10.2174/1567205015666180101145619.
  15. Gu Y, Vorburger R, Scarmeas N, Luchsinger JA, Manly JJ, Schupf N, Mayeux R, Brickman AM. Circulating inflammatory biomarkers in relation to brain structural measurements in a non-demented elderly population. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2017;65:150–160. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2017.04.022.
  16. Gu Y, Vorburger RS, Gazes Y, Habeck CG, Stern Y, Luchsinger JA, Manly JJ, Schupf N, Mayeux R, Brickman AM. White matter integrity as a mediator in the relationship between dietary nutrients and cognition in the elderly. Annals of Neurology. 2016;79(6):1014–1025. doi:10.1002/ana.24674.
  17. Gu Y, Brickman AM, Stern Y, Habeck CG, Razlighi QR, Luchsinger JA, Manly JJ, Schupf N, Mayeux R, Scarmeas N. Mediterranean diet and brain structure in a multiethnic elderly cohort. Neurology. 2015;85(20):1744–1751. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002121.
  18. Gu Y, Razlighi QR, Zahodne LB, Janicki SC, Ichise M, Manly JJ, Devanand DP, Brickman AM, Schupf N, Mayeux R, Stern Y. Brain amyloid deposition and longitudinal cognitive decline in nondemented older subjects: Results from a multi-ethnic population. PLOS ONE. 2015;10(7). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0123743.
  19. Gu Y, Scarmeas N, Cosentino S, Brandt J, Albert M, Blacker D, Dubois B, Stern Y. Change in body mass index before and after Alzheimer’s disease onset. Current Alzheimer Research. 2014;11(4):349–356
  20. Gu Y, Nieves JW, Stern Y, Luchsinger JA, Scarmeas N. Food Combination and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Protective Diet. Archives of Neurology. 2010;67(6):699–706. PMID: 20385883; PMCID: PMC3029147.

For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov

Back to top