Huitong Ding, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Anatomy & Neurobiology
Education:
PhD, Hefei University of Technology
BS, Hefei University of Technology
Research interests:
Dr. Ding is dedicated to advancing inclusive translational research in Alzheimer’s disease. His research explores cognitive heterogeneity, sex differences, early detection, digital phenotyping of cognitive impairments, and heart-brain connection using inclusive approaches. As a Framingham Heart Study investigator, he collaborates with interdisciplinary teams across academia and industry and is expanding his global partnerships.
Active studies:
- Exploring heterogeneity of cognitive trajectories of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease with digital phenotyping
09/05/2025 – 08/31/2027
National Institute on Aging
1R03AG095992-01
- Early detection and monitoring of Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias using non-semantic linguistic and acoustic features of speech derived from hearing aids
09/15/2025 – 05/31/2026
National Institute on Aging
2R44AG080977-02A1
Selected recent publications:
- Ding H, Brown S, Paquette DR, Orwig TA, Spartano NL, Lin H. Passive Measures of Physical Activity and Cadence as Early Indicators of Cognitive Impairment: Observational Study. J Med Internet Res. 2025 Sep 12; 27:e72946. PMID: 40939123; PMCID: PMC12431165; DOI: 10.2196/72946;
- Li Z, Ding H, Wang M, Li Y, Ang TFA, Ashita G, Gifford KA, Karjadi C, Levy D, Au R, Liu C. Association of DNA methylation age acceleration with digital clock drawing test performance: the Framingham Heart Study. Aging (Albany NY). 2025 Jul 21; 17(7):1721-1745. PMID: 40699219; PMCID: PMC12339028; DOI: 10.18632/aging.206285;
- Ding H, Madan S, Searls E, McNulty M, Low S, Li Z, Ho K, Rahman S, Igwe A, Popp Z, Hwang PH, De Anda-Duran I, Kolachalama VB, Mez J, Alosco ML, Thomas RJ, Au R, Lin H. Exploring nightly variability and clinical influences on sleep measures: insights from a digital brain health platform. Sleep Med. 2025 Jul; 131:106532. PMID: 40306226; PMCID: PMC12086039; DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2025.106532;
- Ding H, Lyu C, Karjadi C, Sunderaraman P, Young CB, Mormino EC, Low S, Devine S, Gifford K, Au R, Lin H. Association of the digital clock drawing test with amyloid and tau PET biomarkers in low age risk adults. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 01; 15(1):11104. PMID: 40169870; PMCID: PMC11961701; DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-95852-8;
- Yang J, Ding H, Li Y, Ang TFA, Devine S, Liu Y, Qiu W, Au R, Ma J, Liu C. Association of mid-age Life’s Essential 8 score with digital cognitive performance and incident Alzheimer’s disease: The Framingham Heart Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2025 Mar; 104(2):498-508. PMID: 40025717; DOI: 10.1177/13872877251317734;
- Ding H, Ye Z, Paschalidis A, Bennett DA, Au R, Lin H. Dynamic lifetime risk prediction of Alzheimer’s disease with longitudinal cognitive assessment measurements. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Mar; 21(3):e70055. PMID: 40042504; PMCID: PMC11881628; DOI: 10.1002/alz.70055;
- Leng Y, Ding H, Ang TFA, Au R, Doraiswamy PM, Liu C. Identifying proteomic prognostic markers for Alzheimer’s disease with survival machine learning: The Framingham Heart Study. J Prev Alzheimers Dis. 2025 Feb; 12(2):100021. PMID: 39863332; PMCID: PMC12184055; DOI: 10.1016/j.tjpad.2024.100021;
- Ding H, Gifford K, Shih LC, Ho K, Rahman S, Igwe A, Low S, Popp Z, Searls E, Li Z, Madan S, Burk A, Hwang PH, Anda-Duran I, Kolachalama VB, Au R, Lin H. Exploring the Perspectives of Older Adults on a Digital Brain Health Platform Using Natural Language Processing: Cohort Study. JMIR Form Res. 2024 Nov 18; 8:e60453. PMID: 39556805; PMCID: PMC11612578; DOI: 10.2196/60453;
- Ding H, Ho K, Searls E, Low S, Li Z, Rahman S, Madan S, Igwe A, Popp Z, Burk A, Wu H, Ding Y, Hwang PH, Anda-Duran I, Kolachalama VB, Gifford KA, Shih LC, Au R, Lin H. Assessment of Wearable Device Adherence for Monitoring Physical Activity in Older Adults: Pilot Cohort Study. JMIR Aging. 2024 Oct 25; 7:e60209. PMID: 39454101; PMCID: PMC11530080; DOI: 10.2196/60209;
- Leng Y, Ding H, Alvin Ang TF, Au R, Doraiswamy PM, Liu C. Identifying Proteomic Prognostic Markers for Alzheimer’s Disease with Survival Machine Learning: the Framingham Heart Study. medRxiv. 2024 Sep 23. PMID: 39399041; PMCID: PMC11469405; DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.21.24314123;
- Ding H, Lister A, Karjadi C, Au R, Lin H, Bischoff B, Hwang PH. Detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment From Non-Semantic, Acoustic Voice Features: The Framingham Heart Study. JMIR Aging. 2024 Aug 22; 7:e55126. PMID: 39173144; PMCID: PMC11377909; DOI: 10.2196/55126;
- Ding H, Kim M, Searls E, Sunderaraman P, Anda-Duran I, Low S, Popp Z, Hwang PH, Li Z, Goyal K, Hathaway L, Monteverde J, Rahman S, Igwe A, Kolachalama VB, Au R, Lin H. Corrigendum: Digital neuropsychological measures by defense automated neurocognitive assessment: reference values and clinical correlates. Front Neurol. 2024; 15:1433972. PMID: 38867888; PMCID: PMC11167070; DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1433972;
- Ding H, Liu C, Li Y, Ang TFA, Devine S, Liu Y, Au R, Doraiswamy PM. Sex-specific blood biomarkers linked to memory changes in middle-aged adults: The Framingham Heart Study. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2024; 16(1):e12569. PMID: 38545543; PMCID: PMC10966919; DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12569;
- Ding H, Wang B, Hamel AP, Karjadi C, Ang TFA, Au R, Lin H. Exploring cognitive progression subtypes in the Framingham Heart Study. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2024; 16(1):e12574. PMID: 38515438; PMCID: PMC10955221; DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12574;
- Ding H, Kim M, Searls E, Sunderaraman P, De Anda-Duran I, Low S, Popp Z, Hwang PH, Li Z, Goyal K, Hathaway L, Monteverde J, Rahman S, Igwe A, Kolachalama VB, Au R, Lin H. Digital neuropsychological measures by defense automated neurocognitive assessment: reference values and clinical correlates. Front Neurol. 2024; 15:1340710. PMID: 38426173; PMCID: PMC10902432; DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1340710;
- Ding H, Lister A, Karjadi C, Au R, Lin H, Bischoff B, Hwang P. Innovation in Aging. EARLY DETECTION OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS FROM VOICE RECORDINGS: THE FRAMINGHAM HEART STUDY. 2024.
- Ding H, Wang B, Hamel AP, Melkonyan M, Ang TFA, Au R, Lin H. Prediction of Progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer’s disease with Longitudinal and Multimodal Data. Front Dement. 2023; 2. PMID: 38895707; PMCID: PMC11185839; DOI: 10.3389/frdem.2023.1271680;
- Ding H, Hamel AP, Karjadi C, Ang TFA, Lu S, Thomas RJ, Au R, Lin H. Association Between Acoustic Features and Brain Volumes: the Framingham Heart Study. Front Dement. 2023; 2. PMID: 38911669; PMCID: PMC11192548; DOI: 10.3389/frdem.2023.1214940;
- Ding H, Mandapati A, Hamel AP, Karjadi C, Ang TFA, Xia W, Au R, Lin H. Multimodal Machine Learning for 10-Year Dementia Risk Prediction: The Framingham Heart Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2023; 96(1):277-286. PMID: 37742648; DOI: 10.3233/JAD-230496;
- Ding H, Sunderaraman P, Devine SA, Karjadi C, Ang TF, Au R. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. The utility of the digital clock drawing test as an accurate early screening tool for those with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. 2023.