Education

2005｜Doctor of Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Supervisor: Professor Yongyan Wang, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Professional Experience

2020.12–Present｜Second-tier Professor, State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University

2025.11–Present｜Founding Director, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence for Elderly Brain Health

2017.03–2025.07｜Executive Deputy Director, State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University

2013.12– Present｜Founding Director, Center for Aging Brain Health, Beijing Normal University

2013.07–2020.12｜Professor, State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University

2010.12–2016.12｜Vice Dean, Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science, Beijing Normal University

Research Description

My research integrates cognitive neuroscience, clinical medicine, artificial intelligence, brain imaging, and psychology to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive aging and mental health. The lab focuses on AI-driven cognitive decline research and develops intelligent brain imaging and cognitive aging platforms to promote translational research in brain health.

Publications

1. Y. Li, G. Long, X. Zhang, K. Chen, X. Li, and Z. Zhang, “ Shannon Entropy of Gray Matter Eigenmodes: A Novel Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease and Heterogeneous MCI Trajectories.” Adv. Sci. 13, no. 1 (2026): e11614. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202511614

2. Li, Y., Zhang, X., Li, X, and Z. Zhang, Brain maintenance biomarkers from structural and functional interactions in aging and neurodegeneration. Nat Commun 17, 6908 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73071-7

3. Peng, B., Du, L., Dang, M., Li, T., Li, Z., Liu, J., Chen, Y., Liu, B., Zhang, Z. (2026). Decoupling MCI-specific signatures from shared neurobiological substrates of cognitive aging via deep learning. npj Digit. Med. 9, 490. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-026-02597-3

4. Dai, X., Liu, S., Li, Y., Long, S., Li, X., Chen, C., Yang, C., Zhang, J., Zhuo Rachel Han, Li, H.*, Wang, J.*, Zhang, Z. (2024). White Matter Plasticity Underpins Cognitive Gains After Multidomain Adaptive Computerized Cognitive Training. The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 79(4), glae046.

5. Dang, M., Chen, Y., Ji, J. S., Zhang, Y., Chen, C., & Zhang, Z. (2024). The association between household and family composition and mental health of the elderly: mediating role of lifestyle. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 2055–15.

6. Chen, Y., Li, Z., Chen, Y., Dang, M., Chen, K., Sang, F., Fang, H., & Zhang, Z. (2024). Cerebellar gray matter and white matter damage among older adults with prediabetes. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 213, 111731.

7. Du, C., Li, X., Li, J., Wang, W., Dang, M., Cheng, J., Xu, K., Wang, J., Chen, C., Chen, Y., & Zhang, Z. (2024). Leisure activities as reserve mediators of the relationship between loneliness and cognition in aging. Translational Psychiatry, 14(1), 217–217.

8. Du, C., Dang, M., Chen, K., Chen, Y., & Zhang, Z. (2023). Divergent brain regional atrophy and associated fiber disruption in amnestic and non-amnestic MCI. Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, 15(1), 199–199.

9. Yang, Y., Chen, Y., Sang, F., Zhao, S., Wang, J., Li, X., Chen, C., Chen, K., & Zhang, Z. (2022). Successful or pathological cognitive aging? Converging into a “frontal preservation, temporal impairment (FPTI)” hypothesis. Science Bulletin, 67(22), 2285–2290.