Yannick Vermeiren

Yannick Vermeiren is an Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Cognitive Brain Aging at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), within the Department of Human Nutrition and Health. He holds a guest professorship at the University of Antwerp’s Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences (Translational Neurosciences Group). His expertise spans neurochemistry, dementia biomarkers, and the gut-brain axis. He earned his PhD in Neurosciences from the University of Antwerp in 2015, recognized with the Santkin Prize for Alzheimer research (2016).

Research focuses on three pillars: 1) nutritional interventions to prevent cognitive decline (e.g., MIND diet studies), 2) gut-brain axis mechanisms in aging, and 3) identifying biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. Key projects include the FINGER-NL multidomain intervention trial (2021–2027), the NanoNU-Marker project (NWO-KIC-funded), and collaborations on prebiotic supplementation (PRECODE) and nano-imaging of amyloid proteins.

Teaching includes coordinating the Nutrition and the Brain MSc course and contributing to Nutrition and the Ageing Body. He serves as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Neuroscience and Nutrition Journal. His work bridges nutritional sciences with analytical and chemical neurosciences, emphasizing translational research to combat cognitive aging and neurodegeneration.