Bei Wu

Faculty

Bei Wu headshot

Bei Wu

FAAN FGSA PhD

Dean's Professor in Global Health
Vice Dean, Research
Affiliated Professor, Ashman Department of Periodontology & Implant Dentistry
Co-director, NYU Aging Incubator

1 212 992 5951

433 First Ave
New York, NY 10010
United States

Accepting PhD students

Dr. Wu is Dean’s Professor in Global Health and Vice Dean for Research at the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She is an inaugural Co-Director of the NYU Aging Incubator. Prior to joining NYU, she was the Pauline Gratz Professor of Nursing at Duke University School of Nursing. Prof. Wu is an internationally-known leader in gerontology.

As a principal investigator, Prof. Wu has led numerous projects supported by federal agencies and private foundations, including the NIH and CDC. She is currently leading several NIH-funded projects including a clinical trial to improve oral health for persons

with cognitive impairment, and a large secondary data analysis to examine how the co-occurrence of diabetes and poor oral health may lead to the development of dementia and cognitive decline. She co-leads the newly funded Rutgers-NYU Center for Asian Health Promotion and Equity. Through this center, she also leads a 5-year intervention study that focuses on supporting Chinese and Korean dementia caregivers who are at increased risk for high blood pressure and diabetes due to the physical and emotional demands of caregiving. She is a director of the Research and Education Core for the NIA-funded Asian Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR).

As a scholar, Prof. Wu is an internationally known leader in gerontology. Her scholarship has been distinguished by interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in various disciplines, including nursing and dentistry, in the US and abroad. Her research areas cover a wide range of topics related to aging and global health, including oral health, long-term care, dementia, and caregiving. She is one of the first in the nation to study the linkages between oral health and cognitive decline in older adults. Her research has also addressed knowledge gaps in the linkages between oral health and diabetes.

Prof. Wu has devoted much of her time to training the next generation of aging and nursing scientists from dozens of academic institutions in the U.S. and abroad. She has mentored hundreds of faculty members, visiting scholars, and students from various disciplines, including nursing, gerontology, dentistry, medicine, social work, demography, public health, sociology, public policy, geography, and economics. She is successful in mentoring several dozens of early-stage faculty members in receiving competitive funding from NIH, Robert Wood Johnson Scholars, the Alzheimer’s Society (UK), National Science Foundation of China, China Medical Board, National Medical Research Council (Singapore), and many others. 

Prof. Wu is a productive researcher. She has published more than 600 peer-reviewed papers, books, reports, and conference abstracts. Her extensive publications cover a wide range of topics related to aging and global health. She has delivered presentations at hundreds of conferences as an invited speaker. Her work has been widely recognized in the field. Research findings from her team have been featured by the National Institute on Aging, and in numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, CNN, BBC, U.S. News and World Report, MarketWatch, CBS News, Reuters, AARP Bulletin, China Daily, Daily Mail, South China Morning Post, and Financial Review.

Her achievement has been recognized by many international and national organizations and she is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, and the New York Academy of Medicine. She is an honorary member of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, and is the former president of the Geriatric Oral Research Group of the International Association for Dental Research. She has served on a number of NIH review panels and is a frequent reviewer for multiple international funding agencies. She was honored as the 2017 IADR Distinguished Scientist in Geriatric Oral Research. She is the recipient of the 2022 Wei Hu Inspiration Award from the China Health Policy and Management Society. 

PhD - Gerontology Center, University of Massachusetts, Boston
MS - Gerontology Center, University of Massachusetts, Boston
BS - Shanghai University

Gerontology
Global

Honorary Member, Sigma Theta Tau International - Honor Society of Nursing

Distinguished Scientist Award for Geriatric Oral Research, International Association for Dental Research (2017)
Pauline Gratz Professorship, Duke University School of Nursing (2014)
J. Morita Junior Investigator Award in Geriatric Oral Health, International Association for Dental Research (2007)
Fellow, Gerontological Society of America
Fellow, New York Academy of Medicine
Fellow, Association for Gerontology in Higher Education

Quality of death among older adults in China: The role of medical expenditure and timely medical treatment

Gong, X., Pei, Y., Zhang, M., & Wu, B. (2023). Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 35(5), 667-682. 10.1080/08959420.2022.2079907
Abstract
Abstract
Medical expenses in the last year of life consume a large portion of healthcare expenditures, yet little is known about the relationship between medical expenditures in the last year of life and quality of death. Few empirical studies have investigated the association between timely medical treatment before dying and quality of death. This study aimed to examine the associations between medical expenditures in the last year of life, timely medical treatment before dying, and quality of death. Data derived from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), the largest national representative study of the oldest-old in China. Results from multinomial logistic regression suggested that higher medical expenses in the last year of life and lack of timely medical treatment before dying are associated with lower quality of death. These findings highlight an urgent need for strengthening education on death and dying, developing hospice and palliative care services, and improving pain management at the end of life in China.

Rehabilitation effect of intelligent rehabilitation training system on hemiplegic limb spasms after stroke

Hao, M., Fang, Q., Wu, B., Liu, L., Tang, H., Tian, F., Chen, L., Kong, D., & Li, J. (2023). Open Life Sciences, 18(1). 10.1515/biol-2022-0724
Abstract
Abstract
This article aimed to explore the rehabilitation efficacy of intelligent rehabilitation training systems in hemiplegic limb spasms after stroke and provided more theoretical basis for the application of intelligent rehabilitation systems in the rehabilitation of hemiplegic limb spasms after stroke. To explore the rehabilitation efficacy of intelligent rehabilitation training system (RTS for short here) in post-stroke hemiplegic limb spasms, this study selected 99 patients with post-stroke hemiplegic limb spasms admitted to a local tertiary hospital from March 2021 to March 2023 as the research subjects. This article used blind selection to randomly divide them into three groups: control group 1, control group 2, and study group, with 33 patients in each group. Control group 1 used a conventional RTS, group 2 used the brain-computer interface RTS from reference 9, and research group used the intelligent RTS from this article. This article compared the degree of spasticity, balance ability score, motor function score, and daily living activity score of three groups of patients after 10 weeks of treatment. After 10 weeks of treatment, the number of patients in the study group with no spasms at level 0 (24) was significantly higher than the number of patients in group 1 (7) and group 2 (10), with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05); In the comparison of Barthel index scores, after ten weeks of treatment, the total number of people in the study group with scores starting at 71-80 and 81-100 was 23. The total number of people in the score range of 71-80 and 81-100 in group 1 was 5, while in group 2, the total number of people in this score range was 8. The study group scored considerably higher than the control group and the difference was found to be statistically relevant (P < 0.05). In the Berg balance assessment scale and motor function assessment scale, after 10 weeks of treatment, the scores of the study group patients on both scales were significantly higher than those of group 1 and group 2 (P < 0.05). The intelligent RTS is beneficial for promoting the improvement of spasticity in stroke patients with hemiplegic limb spasms, as well as improving their balance ability, motor ability, and daily life activities. Its rehabilitation effect is good.

Residential Segregation, Perceived Neighborhood Environment, and All-Cause Mortality Among Community-Dwelling Older Chinese Americans

Jiang, Y., Zhu, Y., Tang, F., Chung, T., & Wu, B. (2023). The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 78(12), 2071-2079. 10.1093/geronb/gbad132
Abstract
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Residential segregation profoundly affects mental and physical health. However, impacts of residential segregation and other neighborhood characteristics on health among older Asian Americans are not fully understood. This study aimed to close this gap by examining effects of residential segregation, perceived neighborhood cohesion, and neighborhood disorder on all-cause mortality among older Chinese immigrants, as well as testing whether the association between residential segregation and mortality would be mediated by perceived neighborhood cohesion and neighborhood disorder. METHODS: Data were drawn from a subsample of 3,094 older Chinese Americans aged 60 and older (mean age = 72.8 years) from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago. Residential segregation was derived using 2010-2014 American Community Survey data. Participants completed surveys on perceived neighborhood cohesion and neighborhood disorder between 2011 and 2013. All-cause mortality was tracked until December 2021. RESULTS: Residential segregation was associated with elevated all-cause mortality risk; this association, however, was no longer statistically significant after controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral, and health covariates. Perceived neighborhood cohesion, but not neighborhood disorder, was significantly associated with decreased mortality risks. There were no indirect effects of residential segregation on all-cause mortality through perceived neighborhood cohesion or neighborhood disorder. These effects were consistent across male and female participants. DISCUSSION: These results suggest the importance of neighborhood social environment, specifically perceptions of neighborhood cohesion, in influencing mortality risk among older Chinese immigrants. The findings also indicate the need to conduct further research to examine the health impact of residential segregation among this population.

Sensory impairment and cognitive decline among older adults: An analysis of mediation and moderation effects of loneliness

Ge, S., Pan, W., Wu, B., Plassman, B. L., Dong, X. Q., & McConnell, E. S. (2023). Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16. 10.3389/fnins.2022.1092297
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Multiple studies have reported that hearing and vision impairment are linked to cognitive decline. Yet little is known about factors that may influence the association between sensory impairment and cognitive decline. This study examined if loneliness mediates or moderates the impact of sensory impairment on cognitive decline as individuals age. Methods: This was a longitudinal study using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS) (N = 243). We used one timepoint of hearing and vision (ADAMS 2006–2008), one timepoint of loneliness (HRS 2006–2008), and five waves of cognition (HRS 2006–2014). Hearing impairment was defined by an inability to hear pure-tone stimuli of 25 dB at frequencies between 0.5 and 4.0 kHz in either ear. Visual impairment was defined as having corrected binocular vision worse than 20/40. Longitudinal parallel-process (LPP) analysis was conducted at a significance level of α = 0.05 (one-tailed). Results: Loneliness moderated but did not mediate the association between visual impairment and the rate of cognitive decline (standardized β =−0.108, p < 0.05). No moderation or mediation effect of loneliness was found for the association between hearing impairment and cognitive decline. Both vision and hearing impairment were significantly associated with increased severity of loneliness. Conclusion: Visual impairment combined with an elevated level of loneliness may produce a more synergistic, deleterious impact on older adults’ cognitive function than visual impairment alone. This study highlights the importance of promoting a healthy social and psychological status for older adults with sensory impairment.

Sex differences in the mediating role of chronic inflammation on the association between social isolation and cognitive functioning among older adults in the United States

Qi, X., Ng, T. K. S., & Wu, B. (2023). Psychoneuroendocrinology, 149. 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106023
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Previous research has reported the association between social isolation and cognitive impairment. However, biological mechanisms underlying this association are understudied. It is also unclear whether there are sex differences in these biological mechanisms. Objectives: To examine whether chronic inflammation biomarkers are potential mediators of the association between social isolation and cognitive functioning among older men and women. Methods: Data were the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002. A total of 2535 older adults aged 60 and older were included. Chronic inflammation was measured by C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma fibrinogen, and serum albumin. Cognitive functioning was assessed by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Social isolation was defined using a 4-point composite index of items pertaining to the strength of social network and support. Linear regression models and formal mediation analysis were applied. Results: Social isolation was associated with lower DSST scores [β (SE) = −2.445 (1.180), p < 0.01 for men; β (SE) = −5.478 (1.167), p < 0.001 for women]. For older men, social isolation was associated with higher levels of CRP (β [SE] = 0.226 (0.110), p < 0.05) and fibrinogen (β [SE] = 0.058 (0.026), p < 0.05). In mediation analyses, among older men, CRP mediated 6.1% and fibrinogen mediated 12.0% of the association of social isolation with DSST. Conclusion: Social isolation was associated with poorer cognitive functioning partially via heightened inflammatory responses in older men. Defining these associations’ mechanisms in sex-specific contexts could inform preventive and therapeutic strategies for cognitive impairment in older adults.

Social isolation, loneliness and accelerated tooth loss among Chinese older adults: A longitudinal study

Qi, X., Pei, Y., Wang, K., Han, S., & Wu, B. (2023). Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 51(2), 201-210. 10.1111/cdoe.12727
Abstract
Abstract
Objective: Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to numerous determinants of health and well-being. However, the effects of social isolation and loneliness on oral health remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of social isolation and loneliness on the number of remaining teeth and the rate of tooth loss over time among Chinese older adults. Methods: We used three waves of data (2011/2012, 2014 and 2018) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey with 4268 older adults aged 65 and older who were interviewed in at least two waves. The number of remaining teeth was first evaluated at baseline and then subsequently at follow-up visits. Mixed-effects Poisson regression was used to examine the associations between social isolation, loneliness, and both the number of remaining teeth and the rate of tooth loss. Results: Social isolation was associated with fewer remaining teeth (β = −.06, 95% CI = −0.13 to 0.00, p <.05) and accelerated tooth loss (β = −.02, 95% CI = −0.02 to −0.01, p <.01) after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, lifestyle and oral hygiene behaviours, physical and cognitive health, and loneliness. Loneliness was neither associated with the number of remaining teeth (β =.15, 95% CI = −0.01 to 0.30, p =.06) nor with the rate of tooth loss (β = −.01, 95% CI = −0.02 to 0.00, p =.16) after adjusting for all other factors. Conclusions: This study provides strong evidence that social isolation was associated with fewer remaining teeth and accelerated tooth loss among Chinese older adults. These findings expand our knowledge about the impact of social disconnection on tooth loss. More future studies are needed to further examine the associations between social connections and oral conditions using longitudinal cohort studies and intervention studies.

Social Isolation, Sleep Disturbance, and Cognitive Functioning (HRS): A Longitudinal Mediation Study

Qi, X., Pei, Y., Malone, S. K., & Wu, B. (2023). The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 78(10), 1826-1833. 10.1093/gerona/glad004
Abstract
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Social isolation is prevalent and associated with dementia, yet the directionality and mechanisms are less understood. This study examined the association between social isolation and cognitive functioning and explored the mediating role of sleep disturbance on the social isolation-cognition relationship. METHODS: Data from 5 753 dementia-free Americans aged ≥50 of 2006 (T1), 2010 (T2), and 2014 (T3) waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Social isolation was measured by the Steptoe Social Isolation Index. Cognitive functioning was measured by the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status. Sleep disturbance was measured with the modified Jenkins Sleep Scale. We used cross-lagged panel models to determine the associations between social isolation, sleep disturbance, and cognitive functioning. RESULTS: Social isolation is significantly associated with subsequent cognitive functioning (T1 to T2: β = -0.055, standard error [SE] = 0.014, p < .001; T2 to T3: β = -0.044, SE = 0.016, p < .001). Lower cognitive functioning is significantly associated with greater subsequent social isolation (T1 to T2: β = -0.101, SE = 0.020, p < .001; T2 to T3: β = -0.058, SE = .011, p < .001). Sleep disturbance at T2 partially mediated the effect of social isolation (T1) on cognitive functioning (T3), accounting for 6.2% of the total effect (β = -0.003, SE = 0.001, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Social isolation may deteriorate cognitive functioning and vice versa. The association between social isolation and cognition is partially explained by sleep disturbance.

Technology-Based Interventions to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Informal Dementia Caregivers: A Scoping Review

Mao, W., Qi, X., Chi, I., Wichinsky, L., & Wu, B. (2023). Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 24(11), 1700-1707. 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.08.005
Abstract
Abstract
Objective: Social isolation and loneliness are major public health concerns. Informal dementia caregivers are particularly vulnerable, as many are older adults themselves and at elevated risk of adverse mental and physical health outcomes. Technology-based interventions could offer accessible, affordable, and convenient solutions. A previous review included Internet-based supportive interventions for informal dementia caregivers published up to 2013; however, new publications, technological advances, and targeted outcomes justify conducting this scoping review. Here, we identified and synthesized recent technology-based interventions that addressed social isolation and loneliness among informal dementia caregivers. Design: Scoping review. Setting and Participants: Informal dementia caregivers in the community. Methods: Following Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework, we conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed studies across 6 databases within the last 11 years, including identifying research questions, selecting relevant studies, charting data, and summarizing results. Results: From the 2937 articles identified, 10 eligible studies were included in this review. The intervention type, format, and duration varied widely. Three categories of interventions to address social isolation and loneliness among informal dementia caregivers included technology-assisted peer support, newly developed Web-based multicomponent psychoeducational programs and platforms, and virtual adaptation and modification of existing programs. Predominantly qualitative evidence suggests that technology-based interventions have the potential to reduce feelings of loneliness and improve caregiver well-being. Quantitative evidence tends to be preliminary and inconclusive. Conclusions and Implications: The findings offer preliminary evidence for technology-based interventions to reduce or prevent social isolation and loneliness in informal dementia caregivers. Technology-based interventions addressing social isolation and loneliness in informal dementia caregivers have the potential to overcome barriers to low uptake of services and withdrawal from interventions and improve the sustainability of the interventions. In the long run, by reducing or preventing social isolation and loneliness in informal dementia caregivers, the transition from home care to facility-based care might be delayed.

Tooth Loss, Periodontal Disease, and Mild Cognitive Impairment Among Hispanic/Latino Immigrants: The Moderating Effects of Age at Immigration

Luo, H., Wu, B., González, H. M., Stickel, A., Kaste, L. M., Tarraf, W., Daviglus, M. L., Sanders, A. E., & Cai, J. (2023). The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 78(6), 949-957. 10.1093/gerona/glac178
Abstract
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The objectives were to assess (a) the association between poor oral health and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Hispanic/Latino immigrants and (b) potential modification effects on this association by age at immigration. METHODS: Data were from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos and its ancillary study-the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging. MCI, a binary outcome variable, defined by the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association criteria. The main exposure was significant tooth loss (STL), defined as a loss of 8 or more teeth, and periodontitis, classified using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Academy of Periodontology case classification. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association between STL/periodontitis and MCI and test moderation effects of age at immigration. The analytical sample comprised 5 709 Hispanic/Latino adult immigrants. RESULTS: Hispanic/Latino immigrants with STL (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.85) were more likely to have MCI than those with greater tooth retention. Overall, migration to the United States after age 18 was associated with greater odds of MCI than migration at a younger age. A significant interaction effect between STL and age at immigration revealed that the effect of STL on MCI is even higher in those who immigrated to the United States at ages 35-49 years. CONCLUSIONS: STL is a significant risk factor for MCI and age at immigration had a modification effect on the association between STL and MCI. Better access to dental care, health education on risk factors of MCI, and promotion of good oral health may mitigate the burden of cognitive impairment in Hispanics/Latinos.

Unraveling the central and bridge psychological symptoms of people living with HIV: A network analysis

Wen, H., Zhu, Z., Hu, T., Li, C., Jiang, T., Li, L., Zhang, L., Fu, Y., Han, S., Wu, B., & Hu, Y. (2023). Frontiers in Public Health, 10. 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1024436
Abstract
Abstract
Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) experience multiple psychological symptoms. Few studies have provided information on central and bridge psychological symptoms among PLWH. This information has implications for improving the efficiency and efficacy of psychological interventions. Our study aimed to identify the central and bridge psychological symptoms of PLWH and to explore the interconnectedness among symptoms and clusters. Methods: Our study used data from the HIV-related Symptoms Monitoring Survey, a multisite, cross-sectional study conducted during 2017–2021. We used R to visualize the network of 16 symptoms and analyzed the centrality and predictability indices of the network. We further analyzed the bridge symptoms among the three symptom clusters. Results: A total of 3,985 participants were included in the analysis. The results suggested that sadness had the highest strength (rS = 9.69) and predictability (70.7%) compared to other symptoms. Based on the values of bridge strength, feeling unsafe (rbs = 0.94), uncontrollable worry (rbs = 0.82), and self-abasement (rbs = 0.81) were identified as bridge symptoms. We also found a strong correlation between sadness and self-abasement (r = 0.753) and self-loathing and self-blame (r = 0.744). Conclusion: We found that sadness was the central psychological symptom of PLWH, indicating that sadness was the center of the psychological symptom network from a mechanistic perspective and could be a target for intervention. Deactivating bridge symptoms, including “feeling unsafe,” “self-abasement,” and “uncontrollable worry,” could be more effective in preventing symptom activation from spreading (e.g., one symptom activating another).