Richard Henson is a distinguished leader in cognitive neuroscience whose work has profoundly shaped our understanding of brain-cognition relationships across the lifespan. He serves as Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, based at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit where he has led a research program since 2004, and previously held positions as Deputy and Acting Director. As Director of the Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience, he has established one of the world's most comprehensive longitudinal studies of cognitive and brain aging. His academic journey has positioned him at the forefront of integrating cognitive theory with advanced neuroimaging methodologies to address fundamental questions about human memory and its vulnerabilities.
Professor Henson's pioneering research has illuminated the neural mechanisms underlying memory processes and their deterioration in aging and dementia through innovative multimodal neuroimaging approaches. His work with large cohorts utilizing structural and functional MRI, EEG and MEG has generated over 58,000 citations, demonstrating exceptional impact across cognitive neuroscience and clinical neurology. He has made significant contributions to understanding white matter changes in relation to cardiovascular health and cognition, as evidenced by his influential publications in Scientific Reports. His recent investigations employing dynamic causal modeling of longitudinal magnetoencephalography data have provided novel insights into neurophysiological progression in Alzheimer's disease, opening new avenues for early detection and intervention strategies.
As a Fellow of the British Academy and former President of the British Neuroscience Association, Henson has significantly shaped the trajectory of neuroscience research in the United Kingdom and internationally. He has mentored numerous early-career researchers who have gone on to establish independent careers in cognitive neuroscience and related fields, fostering the next generation of scientific leaders. His leadership extends to directing major research initiatives that bridge basic cognitive science with clinical applications for age-related cognitive disorders. Currently, Professor Henson continues to advance the field through his innovative approaches to analyzing multimodal neuroimaging data from large cohorts, with an enduring commitment to translating fundamental discoveries about brain-cognition relationships into practical applications for promoting healthy cognitive aging.
