Bei Wu

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, New York Academy of Medicine

Fellow, Gerontological Society of America

Fellow, Association for Gerontology in Higher Education

Age and Sex Differences in the Associations Among Socioeconomic Status, Affective Reactivity to Daily Stressors, and Physical Health in the MIDUS Study

Jiang, Y., Knauft, K. M., Richardson, C. M., Chung, T., Wu, B., & Zilioli, S. (2023). In Annals of Behavioral Medicine (Vols. 57, Issues 11, pp. 942-950). 10.1093/abm/kaad034

Abstract

Abstract

Background Low socioeconomic status (SES) is robustly associated with increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Affective reactivity to daily stressors has been proposed to be a mediator for this association. However, few longitudinal studies have empirically tested the indirect effect of SES on health through affective reactivity to daily stressors. Purpose This study aimed to test the indirect effect of SES on physical health via affective reactivity to daily stressors over a 10-year period and to explore age and sex differences in such indirect effect. Methods Data were drawn from a subsample of 1,522 middle-aged and older adults (34-83 years of age, 57.2% female, 83.5% White) from the Midlife in the United States study. SES (i.e., education, household income, indicators of financial distress) was assessed in 2004-2006. Affective reactivity to daily stressors was computed using data collected during the 8-day daily stress assessment in 2004-2009. Self-reported physical health conditions were assessed in 2004-2006 and 2013-2014. Results There was a significant indirect effect of lower SES on more physical health conditions via elevated negative affective reactivity to daily stressors among women but not men. The indirect effect of SES on physical health conditions via negative affective reactivity to daily stressors was consistent across the middle and older adulthood. Conclusions Our findings suggest that negative affective reactivity to daily stressors might be a key intermediate process contributing to persistent SES disparities in physical health, particularly among women.

Aging and Oral Health : Biological and Sociobehavioral Perspectives

Wu, B., Colombo, A. P., & Wu, B. (2023). In Journal of dental research (Vols. 102, Issues 8, pp. 841-843). 10.1177/00220345231181885

Abstract

Abstract

As the life expectancy and growth of the aging population increase globally, efforts to promote healthy longevity become more important. Holistic policy guidelines and actions have been designed to advocate and fortify healthy aging at multiple levels. Oral health, a fundamental contributor of overall health and well-being, forms a core part of the noncommunicable disease agenda within the sustainable development goals set by the World Health Organization. Aging significantly heightens the risk of myriad oral disorders and other noncommunicable diseases. As of 2019, oral disorders accounted for 8.9 million disability-adjusted life-years in individuals older than 60 y. In addition to the development of multidisciplinary aging-friendly policies to promote healthy aging, basic biology and translational research has been encouraged that focuses on deciphering the underlying mechanisms involved in age-related physical and cognitive decline or dysregulation of oral tissues. Given the relevance of oral health aging as a critical component of the One Health Initiative, this special issue encompasses a collection of articles dedicated to recent advances in the behavioral and social implications of age-related oral diseases and tooth loss on several aspects of the quality of life of adults as they age. Furthermore, it includes articles detailing molecular mechanisms associated with cellular aging and their implications for oral tissue health, periodontal disease severity, and the regenerative potential of stem cells.

The Association between Intergenerational Support and Self-Rated Health among Chinese Older Adults : Do Resilience and Gender Matter?

Liu, S., Zhang, W., Zhang, K., & Wu, B. (2023). In Journal of Applied Gerontology (Vols. 42, Issue 1, pp. 111-120). 10.1177/07334648221127882

Abstract

Abstract

This study aims to examine the association between intergenerational support and self-rated health (SRH) levels using data collected from Chinese older adults residing in Honolulu, United States (N = 329). We also investigated the mediating role of resilience and the moderating role of gender in the association. We found that receiving emotional support was significantly and positively associated with better SRH for the whole sample. The positive effect of receiving emotional support on health was significant among older women only. In contrast, the beneficial effect of providing economic support on health was significant among older men only. We found that resilience significantly mediated the positive effect of received emotional support on SRH, and this effect was found for the whole sample and among older women. However, resilience did not mediate the positive effect of the economic support provided on SRH among older men.

Association between perceived risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and cognitive function among U.S. older adults

Wang, N., Xu, H., West, J. S., Østbye, T., Wu, B., Xian, Y., & Dupre, M. E. (2023). In Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Vols. 115). 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105126

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess factors associated with the perceived risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and how the perceived risk of ADRD was related to cognitive function. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using 5 waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study (2012–2022) that included adults aged 65 years or older with no previous diagnosis of ADRD at baseline. Cognitive function was measured at baseline and over time using a summary score that included immediate/delayed word recall, serial 7′s test, objective naming test, backwards counting, recall of the current date, and naming the president/vice-president (range = 0–35). Perceived risk of developing ADRD was categorized at baseline as “definitely not” (0% probability), “unlikely” (1–49%), “uncertain” (50%), and “more than likely” (>50–100%). Additional baseline measures included participants’ sociodemographic background, psychosocial resources, health behaviors, physiological status, and healthcare utilization. Results: Of 1457 respondents (median age 74 [IQR = 69–80] and 59.8% women), individuals who perceived that they were “more than likely” to develop ADRD had more depressive symptoms and were more likely to be hospitalized in the past two years than individuals who indicated that it was “unlikely” they would develop ADRD. Alternatively, respondnets who perceived that they would "definitely not" develop ADRD were more likely to be non-Hispanic Black, less educated, and have lower income than individuals who indicated it was “unlikely” they would develop ADRD. Respondents who reported their risks of developing ADRD as “more than likely” (β = −2.10, P < 0.001) and “definitely not” (β = −1.50, P < 0.001) had the lowest levels of cognitive function; and the associations were explained in part by their socioeconomic, psychosocial, and health status. Conclusions: Perceived risk of developing ADRD is associated with cognitive function. The (dis)concordance between individuals’ perceived risk of ADRD and their cognitive function has important implications for increasing public awareness and developing interventions to prevent ADRD.

Association between tooth loss and frailty among Chinese older adults : the mediating role of dietary diversity

Xu, X., Zhao, Y., Wu, B., Pei, Y., & Gu, D. (2023). In BMC Geriatrics (Vols. 23, Issue 1). 10.1186/s12877-023-04355-6

Abstract

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine the association between tooth loss and frailty among Chinese older adults and the mediating role of dietary diversity in this association. Methods: Data from five waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey conducted between 2005 and 2018 were used. Path analyses were employed to assess both concurrent and cross-lagged relationships between tooth loss and frailty index while accounting for intrapersonal correlation. Furthermore, the mediation effect of dietary diversity was also examined. Results: In concurrent models, severe tooth loss was associated with frailty after adjusting for demographic characteristics (odds ratio [OR] = 1.82, p < 0.001). The OR of frailty for severe tooth loss was only slightly decreased to 1.74 (p < 0.001) when dietary diversity was added to the model and to 1.64 (p < 0.001) when socioeconomic status, family support, and healthy lifestyles were further adjusted. In the cross-lag or longitudinal models, the ORs were mildly or moderately reduced to 1.29, 1.27, and 1.23, respectively, yet remained statistically significant (p < 0.001 or p < 0.01). The mediation analyses showed that dietary diversity had some small yet significant effects on the relationship between tooth loss and frailty in both concurrent and longitudinal settings. Conclusions: This study improves current knowledge regarding the impact of tooth loss on frailty among Chinese older adults. Future intervention strategies designed to improve healthy diets may have preventive effects against the risk of frailty among Chinese older adults with severe tooth loss.

The Association Between Trajectories of Perceived Unmet Needs for Home and Community-Based Services and Life Satisfaction Among Chinese Older Adults : The Moderating Effect of Psychological Resilience

Wang, H., Liu, H., Wu, B., & Hai, L. (2023). In Research on Aging. 10.1177/01640275231203608

Abstract

Abstract

This study examined whether trajectories of perceived unmet needs for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) were associated with life satisfaction among Chinese older adults and whether the association was moderated by psychological resilience. Data came from five waves (2005-2018) of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Latent class growth analysis revealed three distinct trajectories of perceived unmet HCBS needs: “increasing” (n = 977, 36.24%), “persistent” (n = 570, 21.14%), and “decreasing” (n = 1149, 42.62%). Multiple regression estimates showed that the increasing group was associated with lower life satisfaction, and the association was moderated by psychological resilience, especially for older adults who were male, living in rural, and oldest-old. Results indicate that inequalities in cumulative exposure to perceived unmet HCBS needs may further lead to increasing inequalities in life satisfaction. Interventions focused on minimizing the provision-need gap of HCBS and enhancing personal resilience should be considered to improve the life satisfaction of older adults.

Association Between Types of Family Support and Glycemic Control for Adults With Cognitive Impairment

Zheng, Y., Lawrence, K., Fletcher, J., Qi, X., & Wu, B. (2023). In Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine (Vols. 9, p. 23337214231218800). 10.1177/23337214231218800

Abstract

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Family support is important in assisting with diabetes self-management for individuals with cognitive impairment, but what types of family support are most effective remain unknown.OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the association between the types of family support in diabetes self-management with glycemic control in middle-aged and older adults with cognitive impairment.METHODS: A total of 267 individuals were included with diabetes and cognitive impairment (27-point Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status score

Association Between Types of Family Support and Glycemic Control for Adults With Cognitive Impairment

Zheng, Y., Lawrence, K., Fletcher, J., Qi, X., & Wu, B. (2023). In Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine (Vols. 9, p. 23337214231218800).

Abstract

Abstract

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Association Between Types of Loneliness and Risks of Functional Disability in Older Men and Women : A Prospective Analysis

Qi, X., Belsky, D. W., Yang, Y. C., & Wu, B. (2023). In American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 10.1016/j.jagp.2023.02.046

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between types of loneliness (transient, incident, and chronic) and the risk of functional disability. Methods: Data were from the Health and Retirement Study 2006/2008-2016/2018. A total of 7,148 adults aged ≥50 was included. Functional status was measured by activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Loneliness was assessed using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. We defined loneliness as no/transient/incident/chronic loneliness based on the pattern and duration of loneliness across 2006/2008 and 2010/2012. We applied multivariate Cox proportional hazard models with the new-onset ADL/IADL disability as outcome. Results: Overall, 69.3% respondents showed no loneliness; while 10.3%, 8.9%, and 11.5% showed transient, incident, and chronic loneliness, respectively. A total of 1,298 (18.16%) and 1,260 (17.63%) functionally normal respondents developed ADL and IADL disability during 36,294 person-years of follow-up, respectively. After adjusting for socio-demographic, behavioral, and health factors, chronic loneliness was associated with higher risks of ADL (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16–1.63, p

Associations of social isolation and loneliness with the onset of insomnia symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in the United States : A population-based cohort study

Qi, X., Malone, S. K., Pei, Y., Zhu, Z., & Wu, B. (2023). In Psychiatry Research (Vols. 325). 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115266

Abstract

Abstract

There is an inconsistent conclusion regarding the relationship of social isolation and loneliness with poor sleep. We investigated the associations of social isolation and loneliness with new-onset insomnia symptoms in a nationally-representative sample of 9,430 adults aged ≥50 who were free of any insomnia symptoms/sleep disorders at baseline (wave 12/13) and followed up to 4 years from the Health and Retirement Study. Social isolation was measured by Steptoe's Social Isolation Index. Loneliness was measured by the revised 3-item UCLA-Loneliness Scale. Insomnia symptoms were quantified using the modified Jenkins Sleep Questionnaire. During a mean follow-up of 3.52 years, 1,522 (16.1%) participants developed at least one insomnia symptom. Cox models showed that loneliness was associated with the onset of difficulties initiating or maintaining sleep, early-morning awakening, nonrestorative sleep, and at least one of these symptoms after adjusting for potential covariates; while social isolation was not associated with the onset of difficulties maintaining sleep, early-morning awakening, or at least one insomnia symptom after adjusting for health indicators. These results are consistent in sensitivity analyses and stratified analyses by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and obesity. Public health interventions aimed at fostering close emotional relationships may reduce the burden of poor sleep among middle-aged and older adults.