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

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). 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). 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).

Warning Signs of Acute Infectious Disease– Related Illness in Persons Living With Dementia Perspectives of Primary Care Providers, Adult Day Service Center Staff, and Family Care Partners

Omeally-Soto, S., Zhong, J., Boafo, J., Wu, B., Brody, A. A., Riffin, C., & Sadarangani, T. R. (2023). Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(5), 35-43. 10.3928/02793695-20220929-02
Abstract
Abstract
In the current study, we conducted one-on-one interviews with primary care providers (PCPs) and family care partners (FCPs) and held focus groups with interdis-ciplinary adult day service center (ADSC) staff to understand the perspectives of care providers across community settings regarding early warning signs of acute illnesses in persons living with dementia (PLWD). We used content analysis to analyze qualitative data. Warning signs of acute illnesses in PLWD fell into one of five categories, including new onset changes in (a) physical functions, (b) moods or be-haviors (psychological), (c) social interactions, (d) speech, or (e) appearance. FCPs (n = 11) focused on physical changes, whereas ADSC staff (n = 33) emphasized changes in speech and social interactions in addition to the other categories. Al-though ADSC staff and PCPs (n = 22) focused on changes in functions and moods, each group described these changes differently. ADSC staff possess rich information that can be used to identify acute changes in PLWD and describe a broader range of warning signs compared to PCPs and FCPs. FCPs may benefit from further training in distinguishing between normal disease progression and acute illness. Future research should focus on the implementation of standardized tools across community-based care providers to simplify the identification and reporting of early warning signs in PLWD.

Worry about old-age support: Chinese rural bachelors’ perspective

Wang, Y., Liu, H., Pei, Y., & Wu, B. (2023). Current Psychology, 42(16), 13475-13485. 10.1007/s12144-021-02547-0
Abstract
Abstract
China’s gender imbalance has led to severe bachelorhood for decades. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between potential availability of family support and worry about old-age support for themselves and their parents from the perspective of rural bachelors. Data was drawn from a cross-sectional survey “Mobility, Sexuality, and Quality of Life of Never Married Men in Rural China”, which was conducted in 9 provinces in 2017. The sample included 359 men who were at least 28 years old, have rural household registration (hukou, in Chinese), and never married. Logistic regressions were used to examine the association between potential availability of family support, measured by living parents and siblings, and worry about old-age support. Results showed that rural bachelors who had a sister(s) were less likely to worry about both their own and their parents’ old-age support than those without sister(s) (OR = 0.496, p < 0.01; OR = 0.494, p < 0.01). Bachelors with a non-bachelor brother(s) were less likely to worry about their parents’ old-age support than those without brother(s) (OR = 0.436, p < 0.01). Our findings highlight the importance of potential availability of family support in determining worries about old-age support for bachelors and their parents. Considering the low level of social security in rural China and the rapid increase in the number of aging bachelors, policies that compensate for the lack of family support should be implemented to relieve vulnerable bachelors’ worries.

“The Sun Came Up Because You Got Here…”: A Qualitative Exploration of Person-Centered Care Strategies Used by Adult Day Care Centers to Manage Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

Boafo, J., David, D., Wu, B., Brody, A. A., & Sadarangani, T. (2023). Journal of Applied Gerontology, 42(2), 147-159. 10.1177/07334648221128283
Abstract
Abstract
In order to reduce care partner strain and support aging in place for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD), adult day centers (ADCs) must manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). The purpose of this paper is to identify person-centered care strategies used by center staff to manage BPSD. Six focus groups with center staff (n = 31) were conducted. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis guided by Kitwood’s conceptual approach to cultivating personhood in dementia care. Themes were identified and organized within Kitwood’s framework. The results demonstrate that staff incorporate evidence-based person-centered approaches to AD/ADRD care that align with Kitwood’s principles of comfort, attachment, inclusion, and identity. Staff individualize their approach to people with AD/ADRD within a group setting. They monitor, engage, socially stimulate, and, when needed, de-stimulate them. Centers are flexible social environments with underrecognized expertise managing BPSD using person-centered approaches.

Acculturation and Subsequent Oral Health Problems Among Foreign-Born Older Chinese Americans: Does Neighborhood Disorder Matter?

Mao, W., Wu, B., Chi, I., Yang, W., & Dong, X. Q. (2022). Research on Aging, 44(3), 231-240. 10.1177/01640275211018785
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the relationship between acculturation and subsequent oral health problems in older Chinese Americans and to further test the moderating role of neighborhood disorder in such a relationship. Methods: The working sample included 2,706 foreign-born community-dwelling older Chinese Americans aged 60 years or older who participated in the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago at baseline between 2011 and 2013 and the 2-year follow-up between 2013 and 2015. Stepwise Poisson regressions with lagged dependent variable were conducted. Results: Behavioral acculturation was protective against subsequent oral health problems, and the protective role was stronger among individuals reporting lower levels of neighborhood disorder. Residence in Chinatown was associated with an increase in the risk of subsequent oral health problems. Discussion: To reduce oral health symptoms and related burdens, it is important to consider, in practice and policy, the role of acculturation and the neighborhood on subsequent oral health outcomes.

Adverse childhood experiences in relation to comorbid cardiovascular diseases and diabetes among middle-aged and old adults in China

Zhang, K., Wu, B., & Zhang, W. (2022). Geriatrics and Gerontology International, 22(1), 12-18. 10.1111/ggi.14312
Abstract
Abstract
Aim: To examine whether various aspects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with comorbid cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes among middle-aged and old adults in China. Methods: Using the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study survey and the 2014 Life History survey, in total, 17 115 respondents aged ≥45 years were included. Logistic regressions were applied to estimate the relationship between aspects of ACEs and diagnosis of both CVDs and diabetes while adjusting for adulthood demographics, health and health behaviors. Results: Childhood hunger (OR = 1.75, P < 0.01), childhood socioeconomic status (OR = 1.45, P < 0.05) and abuse from father (OR = 1.50, P < 0.05) were significantly associated with greater odds of comorbid CVDs and diabetes above and beyond adulthood characteristics. In addition, the effects of these ACEs on comorbidity were stronger than their effects on the single chronic condition. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that, for middle-aged and old Chinese adults, ACEs could have long-lasting impacts on multiple chronic conditions in later life. Public health interventions should focus on the early life stage as the protective childhood conditions might help in warning of later clustering chronic diseases. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 12–18.