Yaqun Yuan, PhD

Dr. Yuan received her PhD from Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, China, and completed her postdoctoral training in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, where she joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2026. Her research focuses on understanding chemosensory function in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Her current work examines how olfactory and gustatory dysfunction relates to mild cognitive impairment, and whether chemosensory testing can support early risk stratification for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. A second line of her research investigates environmental exposures, particularly pesticides, in relation to prodromal neurodegeneration in aging populations. Dr. Yuan has a background in public health and nutritional epidemiology, with specific training and expertise in population-based cohort studies and causal inference methods to strengthen what can be learned from observational data.

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Yuan, Y., Plassman, B. L., Song, S., Luo, Z., Parks, C. G., Hofmann, J. N., Beane Freeman, L. E., Sandler, D. P., & Chen, H. (2026). High pesticide exposure events and subjective cognitive decline among US farmers. Environmental Research.

Yuan, Y., Chamberlin, K. W., Li, C., Luo, Z., Simonsick, E. M., Kucharska-Newton, A., & Chen, H. (2024). Olfaction and mobility in older adults. JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, 150(3), 201–208.

Yuan, Y., Shrestha, S., Luo, Z., Li, C., Plassman, B. L., Parks, C. G., Hofmann, J. N., Beane Freeman, L. E., Sandler, D. P., & Chen, H. (2022). High pesticide exposure events and dreamenacting behaviors among US farmers. Movement Disorders, 37(5), 962–971.

Yuan, Y., Li, C., Luo, Z., Simonsick, E. M., Shiroma, E. J., & Chen, H. (2022). Olfaction and physical functioning in older adults: A longitudinal study. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 77(8), 1612–1619.

Yuan, Y., Luo, Z., Li, C., Pinto, J. M., Shiroma, E. J., Simonsick, E. M., & Chen, H. (2021). Poor olfaction and pneumonia hospitalisation among community-dwelling older adults: A cohort study. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 2(5), e275–e282.