Arizona State University expert directory

Fang Yu is passionate about developing and testing exercise and other non-drug interventions to delay and treat Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. 

Her vision is to improve function and quality of life for older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their family caregivers.

Since 2005, she’s been testing the effects and mechanisms (e.g., aerobic fitness, blood/imaging biomarkers) of aerobic exercise alone and in combination with others things such as iPad-based or computerized cognitive training on cognition.

Her research findings have led to many peer-reviewed papers, a book titled Alzheimer's Rx: Aerobic Exercise, and the FIT-AD™ Certificate Program.

She joined ASU in 2020 as the Edson Chair in Dementia Translational Nursing Science. She’s a gerontological nurse practitioner. Her training includes a John A. Hartford Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity post-doctoral fellowship and NIH K12 award.