Mental Health Research Centre

🧠 Proud to share this latest research led by Prof. Anqi QIU, Director of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) at PolyU.

The study found that visceral fat is significantly associated with brain ageing and cognitive decline, with a much stronger impact than BMI alone. The findings provide new insights into brain health and dementia prevention.

由理大精神健康研究中心（MHRC）主任仇安琪教授領導的研究顯示，內臟脂肪與大腦老化及認知能力下降密切相關，其影響更顯著超越BMI。

【理大最新研究｜ 內臟脂肪威脅大腦健康？🧠】

肥胖與腦退化及失智風險息息相關，但臨床常用作評估指標的 BMI ，無法充分反映身體各部位的脂肪分布差異。

為打破這個局限，理大醫療科技及資訊學系神經信息學講座教授、精神健康研究中心主任及傑出創科學人仇安琪教授領導團隊，完成全球首項大規模多模態研究。團隊透過分析逾 18,000 名參加者的數據，證實特定部位的脂肪分布才是影響大腦與認知功能的關鍵！

研究顯示內臟脂肪的危害最深，不僅直接破壞傳送神經訊號的大腦白質，更易誘發慢性發炎，加速腦部老化與認知退化。幸好局部脂肪屬可調控風險，只要改善生活習慣便能主動預防神經退化。為此，理大將持續推動創新科研與應用，協助大眾更精準守護心智健康。❤️‍🩹

了解更多：https://polyu.hk/unnHv

【Visceral Fat vs. Brain Health: What’s the Real Link? 🧠】

While obesity is closely linked to brain ageing and dementia risks, traditional BMI falls short as it fails to accurately reflect how fat is distributed across the body.

To bridge this gap, Prof. Anqi QIU, Chair Professor of Neuroinformatics of the PolyU Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Director of the Mental Health Research Centre and Global STEM Scholar, led a team to conduct the world’s first large-scale multimodal study. Analysing data from over 18,000 participants, the team proved that where fat accumulates is the true key to brain structure and cognitive performance!

The findings reveal that visceral fat poses the greatest threat. It directly damages brain white matter — the pathways responsible for transmitting neural signals — and triggers chronic inflammation, accelerating brain ageing and cognitive decline.

The good news? Regional adiposity is a manageable health risk factor. By making targeted lifestyle changes to shed visceral fat, we can proactively ward off neurodegeneration. Moving forward, PolyU remains committed to driving innovative research and practical applications to help the public safeguard their cognitive health. ❤️‍🩹

Learn more: https://polyu.hk/Clfxv

#香港理工大學 #理大科研 #大腦退化 #內臟脂肪 #失智症預防

香港理工大學康復治療科學系於 2026 年 7 月 23 日成功舉辦「CRNAT 照顧者評估及支援平台」研發計劃（第二階段）項目簡介會。感謝來自 19 間非牟利機構的 33 位代表，以及 3 位照顧者親臨參與，共同探討如何透過科技創新，建立更全面、更及時、更精準的照顧者支援服務。🤝

由曾永康教授領導、並獲理大精神健康研究中心（ ）資助的兩年期研究計劃，將進一步優化 CRNAT 平台，擴展至支援十個殘疾類別的照顧者，並結合人工智能、機器學習及服務映射功能，協助及早識別照顧者需要及風險，促進適切的資源配對。

我們期待透過跨界別合作及科技應用，推動照顧者支援模式由「被動回應」邁向「主動預警」，共同建構更具包容性及前瞻性的照顧者支援生態。

The CRNAT Caregivers Risk and Needs Assessment Tool (CRNAT) Phase II Project Briefing Session was successfully held on 23 July 2026! Organised by the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the event brought together 33 representatives from 19 NGOs, alongside caregivers who shared their valuable experiences and insights.

Led by Prof. Hector Tsang and funded by PolyU’s Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), the two-year project aims to further enhance the CRNAT digital platform by expanding support to caregivers across ten disability categories and strengthening its assessment, risk identification, and service mapping functions.

By leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, the project seeks to shift caregiver support from a reactive approach to a proactive early-warning model, enabling more timely, targeted, and inclusive support for caregivers and their families.

Together, through innovation and cross-sector collaboration, we can build a stronger and more inclusive caregiver support ecosystem for the community.

#理大 Health #照顧者支援 #康復治療科學 #社區支援 #人工智能 #共融社會

PolyU research newsletter, 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕!
Breaking News: Multilingual AI Cognitive Screening for the Chinese-Speaking Community
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐮, Member of MHRC
Read More:👇
https://polyu.hk/CvJMe

🤖 🗣️ 用於早期認知篩查的AI語音分析🤖 🗣️
🤖🗣️ 𝐀𝐈-𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 🤖 🗣️

認知障礙（cognitive impairment, CI）在長者中相當常見。及早介入可協助延緩病情惡化，避免發展成輕度認知障礙（mild cognitive impairment, MCI）甚至阿茲海默症。

理大語言科學及技術學系暨數據科學及人工智能學系暫任系主任（人工智能及人文學科）兼神經科學及人工智能講座教授梁化樓與其研究團隊，展示AI語音分析如何可支援更實用且具包容性的認知篩查。該研究團隊的認知篩查系統，於「INTERSPEECH 2024 TAUKADIAL Challenge」挑戰賽中，在「簡短智能測驗（Mini Mental State Examination, MMSE）認知分數預測」項目奪得第一名，及「輕度認知障礙分類」項目獲第二名。

該系統將語音視為數碼生物標記（digital biomarker），標誌著認知障礙診斷領域的重大突破。

Cognitive impairment (CI) is common among older adults. Early intervention can help delay progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease.

Prof. Hualou LIANG, Interim Head (Artificial Intelligence and the Humanities) and Chair Professor of Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence of the Department of Language Science and Technology and the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at PolyU, and his research team show how AI-based speech analysis may support more practical and inclusive cognitive screening. The research team’s cognitive screening system secured first place in Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) cognitive score prediction and second in MCI classification at the INTERSPEECH 2024 TAUKADIAL Challenge.

The system uses speech as a digital biomarker, marking a significant advance in CI diagnosis.

More 更多：https://polyu.hk/CvJMe

#理大 #認知障礙 #輕度認知障礙 #阿茲海默症 #創新 #研究 #理大研究

PolyU research newsletter, 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕!
Beyond BMI: How Fat Distribution Shapes the Ageing Brain
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐐𝐈𝐔 𝐀𝐧𝐪𝐢, Director of Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC)
Read More:👇
https://polyu.hk/NEJeL

𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐀 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠

As populations age, protecting brain health has become increasingly important.

While previous research has focused mainly on body mass index (BMI), Prof. Anqi QIU, Global STEM Scholar and Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics at PolyU, and her research team showed that regional fat distribution is associated with brain structure, functional connectivity, white-matter integrity and cognition—independently of BMI.

The research found that, among all fat depots, visceral adiposity showed the strongest adverse associations with brain integrity and cognitive performance.

Prof. Qiu and her team showed that moving beyond BMI is essential for achieving a more precise understanding of obesity-related brain ageing, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s-related risk.

More: https://polyu.hk/NEJeL



體脂分佈：或是評估腦部老化的更精準指標

隨着人口老化，維持腦部健康變得越來越重要。

過往研究多集中於體重指數（BMI）。然而，理大醫療科技及資訊學系教授暨全球STEM學者仇安琪及其研究團隊的研究顯示，局部脂肪分佈與大腦結構、功能連結、白質完整性及認知能力均存在關聯，而這些關聯獨立於BMI。

研究發現，在各類脂肪儲存部位之中，內臟脂肪與大腦完整性及認知表現的負面關聯最為顯著。

仇教授及其團隊指出，要更精準地理解與肥胖相關的腦部老化、認知衰退及阿茲海默症相關風險，不應只依賴 BMI 這一指標。
更多：https://polyu.hk/NEJeL

#理大 #認知 #阿茲海默症 #腦部健康 #老齡化 #局部脂肪 #脂肪分佈 #內臟脂肪 #創新 #研究 #理大研究

Four MHRC members are featured in the latest issue of PolyU research newsletter, 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕! Check them out:

Beyond BMI: How Fat Distribution Shapes the Ageing Brain by 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐐𝐈𝐔 𝐀𝐧𝐪𝐢, Director of Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC)
https://polyu.hk/NEJeL

Breaking News: Multilingual AI Cognitive Screening for the Chinese-Speaking Community by 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐮, Member of MHRC
https://polyu.hk/CvJMe

Beyond the Pandemic: AI Contact Tracing System Safeguards Residential Care Homes by 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐇𝐨 𝐊𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐇𝐔𝐌, Member of MHRC
https://polyu.hk/gLNSF

Caring for the Carers: A Nature-Based Mindfulness Programme for Caregivers by 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐎, Member of MHRC
https://polyu.hk/RbOpP

探索理大智齡研究新成果——《Innovation Digest》第八期現已出版

立即細閱《Innovation Digest》第八期，探索理大近期研究成果！今期以智齡為主題，帶領讀者了解如何透過科技與照護，創造豐盛人生。本期介紹八項聚焦智齡的理大研究，涵蓋新興科技與支援照護兩個範疇。

今期通訊有兩大重點：「Emerging Tech」展示支援長者身體健康的最新科技發展；「Supportive Care」則探討應用於護理的新工具及設備，並關注照顧者的心理健康及福祉。

印刷版數量有限，先到先得，派完即止。

𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝟖: 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐔 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠

Immerse yourself in recent research outputs from PolyU in Issue 8 of Innovation Digest! This issue showcases eight research studies under the theme “Smart Ageing: Driving Prosperity in Life Through Tech and Care”, highlighting PolyU research on smart ageing, with a focus on emerging technologies and supportive care.

Dive into our research highlights:
Beyond BMI: How Fat Distribution Shapes the Ageing Brain
by Prof. Anqi QIU https://polyu.hk/NEJeL

Breaking News: Multilingual AI Cognitive Screening for the Chinese-Speaking Community
by Prof. Hualou LIANG https://polyu.hk/CvJMe

Beyond the Pandemic: AI Contact Tracing System Safeguards Residential Care Homes
by Prof. Ho Keung David SHUM and Prof. Lin YANG https://polyu.hk/gLNSF

Sound Solution: A Breakthrough Approach to Parkinson’s Disease
by Prof. Lei SUN https://polyu.hk/aXfeL

Stepping into Safety: How Immersive VR Can Help Prevent Falls in Older Adults
by Kenneth Nai Kuen FONG https://polyu.hk/YvKtX

When Digital Painting Meets Dementia Care Support
by Prof. Angela Man Yee LEUNG https://polyu.hk/ybdON

Beyond the Hype: Older Adults' Perspectives on Smart Healthcare in Hong Kong
by Prof. Yan Tina LUXIMON https://polyu.hk/TmLmL

Caring for the Carers: A Nature-Based Mindfulness Programme for Caregivers
by Prof. Herman Hay Ming LO https://polyu.hk/RbOpP

Printed copies are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

Explore our full digital issue / 瀏覽完整電子版: https://polyu.hk/gjeiR

#理大 #智龄 #老龄化 #新兴科技 #支援照护 #创新 #研究 #理大研究

MHRC hosts 2026 networking luncheon to advance interdisciplinary collaboration and mental wellness

The Mental Health Research Centre ( ) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University ( ) hosted its 2026 Networking Luncheon on 29 May 2026 at Hotel ICON, bringing together over 50 representatives from the Government, the Hospital Authority, non-governmental organisations, charitable foundations and academia to foster interdisciplinary exchange and strengthen collaboration in mental health research and community services.

To celebrate the launch of MHRC’s second funding cycle, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, officiated by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, Prof. David SHUM, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Prof. QIU Anqi, Director of MHRC, Prof. Hector TSANG, Co-founder of MHRC, Dr LAM Ching-choi, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health of the Health Bureau, HKSAR, and Mr David NG, Assistant Director (Rehabilitation & Medical Social Services) of the Social Welfare Department, HKSAR, and Mr Lawrence CHAN, Founder of the Seal of Love Charitable Foundation.

During the luncheon, Prof. QIU Anqi shared the Centre’s latest research achievements and future strategic directions, highlighting how MHRC integrates neuroscience, artificial intelligence, rehabilitation sciences and social work to develop innovative, technology-driven mental health interventions.

The meaningful exchanges throughout the luncheon underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and further strengthened the collective commitment to enhancing mental health and well-being in the community.❤️

精神健康研究中心舉辦2026年交流午宴　攜手推動跨學科合作與精神健康發展

香港理工大學（理大）精神健康研究中心於2026年5月29日假唯港薈舉辦交流午宴，匯聚逾50位來自政府、醫院管理局、非政府組織、慈善基金會及理大學界的代表，共同促進跨學科交流，加強精神健康研究與社區服務協作。

為慶祝中心踏入第二個資助週期，大會特別舉行剪綵儀式，由趙汝恒教授、理大高等研究院院長陳清焰教授、醫療及社會科學院院長岑浩強教授、精神健康研究中心主任仇安琪教授、中心共同創辦人曾永康教授、醫務衞生局精神健康諮詢委員會主席林正財醫生、社會福利署助理署長（康復及醫務社會服務）吳偉強先生，以及正愛慈善基金會創辦人陳文耀先生共同主禮。

午宴期間，仇安琪教授介紹中心最新研究成果及未來發展方向，並分享中心如何結合神經科學、人工智能、康復科學及社會工作，推動創新及科技驅動的精神健康介入方案。

午宴上的交流不僅彰顯跨學科合作的重要性，更進一步凝聚各界力量，共同提升社區精神健康與福祉。

#理大 #精神健康研究中 #精神健康

We are proud to announce that Prof. Sylvia Xiaohua CHEN, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Chair Professor of Social and Cultural Psychology in the Department of Applied Social Sciences, Director of the Yan Oi Tong Au Suet Ming Child Development Centre, and Co-Founder of the Mental Health Research Centre ( ) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University ( ), has been elected as a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA) in the Social Sciences, Law, and Economics class. 🎓✨
我們非常榮幸地宣佈香港理工大學醫療及社會科學院副院長、應用社會科學系社會及文化心理學講座教授、仁愛堂歐雪明兒童發展中心總監，以及精神健康研究中心共同創辦人陳曉華教授，獲選為歐洲科學與藝術院（European Academy of Sciences and Arts, EASA）院士，隸屬第五學部──社會科學、法律及經濟。

As a leading expert in social and cultural psychology, this international honor recognises Prof. Chen’s exceptional contributions to research on bilingualism, globalization, and mental health. A truly well-deserved recognition for her dedication to scientific and societal progress! 🌍🔬
作為社會及文化心理學領域的頂尖專家，這項國際榮譽表彰了陳教授在雙語文化、全球化及精神健康研究方面的卓越貢獻，肯定了她對推動科學與社會進步的努力。

#理大 #榮譽 #心理學 #精神健康

Congratulations to Prof. Wayne L. S. Chan, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre ( ) and Assistant Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, on receiving HK$1.5 million in funding from the Health and Medical Research Fund ( ) of the HKSAR Government!
熱烈恭賀精神健康研究中心成員、康復治療科學系助理教授陳立新教授，其研究項目獲香港特別行政區政府醫療衛生研究基金撥款150萬港元！

Falls are a major concern for our seniors, but what if gaming could be the solution? 🎮 Prof. Chan’s research project will evaluate the effects of exergaming on balance and mobility for community-dwelling older adults. By combining exercise with interactive technology, we are paving the way for safer, more active aging! 👣✨
跌倒是長者健康的重大挑戰，但「打機」也可以是解決方案？ 陳教授的研究項目旨在評估體感遊戲 (Exergaming) 如何幫助曾反覆跌倒的社區長者改善平衡力。結合運動與互動科技，我們正致力為長者打造更安全、更健康的生活！

HMRF funding supports local research to improve healthcare practices and enhance the quality of care in Hong Kong. We can’t wait to see the impact of this study! 👏
是次資助將進一步推動本地醫療研究，提升香港的醫療護理水平。期待陳教授的研究成果！

#香港理工大學 #康復治療 #體感遊戲 #跌倒預防 #醫療研究 #長者健康