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

Assistance with oral hygiene care among family dementia caregivers in Chinese American Communities in New York City

Mao, W., Wu, B., & Pei, Y. (2025). Aging and Health Research, 5(1). 10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100210
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Oral hygiene care is instrumental to maintaining optimal oral health. As dementia progresses, individuals face challenges performing adequate oral hygiene care and become dependent on their caregivers. The role of family caregivers in assisting with oral hygiene care becomes increasingly critical. This study explored the association between caregiving circumstances, care recipient characteristics, and assistance in oral hygiene care among dementia caregivers in Chinese American communities. Methods: Data came from a pilot study on Chinese dementia caregivers in New York City collected between November 2021 and June 2022. Purposive sampling was used to recruit family caregivers to participate in a survey (online or via telephone). Current caregivers (n = 76) were included. Caregiver assistance with oral hygiene care was measured by assistance with toothbrushing (yes or no) and assistance with flossing (yes or no). Descriptive analyses, group comparisons, and logistic regressions were conducted. Results: Female caregivers tended to assist with toothbrushing. Caregivers with an average of 2.4 years in providing care tended to assist with flossing. Care recipients with tooth pain were 5.12 times more likely to receive assistance with toothbrushing. Care recipients with more natural teeth were 1.07 times more likely to receive assistance with toothbrushing. Care recipients with severe dementia were 94 % less likely to receive assistance with flossing. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of understanding the factors that influence caregivers’ assistance with oral hygiene care. This study is a crucial first step toward developing effective, caregiver-led interventions to improve the oral hygiene of individuals with dementia.

Barriers to Timely Dementia Diagnosis in Older Latinos With Limited English Proficiency: An Integrative Review

Fernandez Cajavilca, M., Squires, A., Wu, B., & Sadarangani, T. (2025). Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 36(1), 57-72. 10.1177/10436596241268456
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Timely diagnosis is critical for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) to ensure they receive adequate services; however, timely diagnosis may be prevented by a person’s English language skills. The purpose of this integrative review was to understand how limited English proficiency (LEP) impacts older Latino’s ability to access a timely ADRD diagnosis. Methods: Whittemore and Knafl’s methodological approach guided the review. Searches in five databases yielded 12 articles for inclusion. Results: Lack of culturally congruent health care systems, health care providers, and knowledge of ADRD resulted in delays in obtaining a timely ADRD diagnosis among older Latinos with LEP. Discussion: Latinos with LEP and risk for ADRD benefit from language assistance and support in navigating the health care system. Nurses must be advocates, even when a language barrier is present, and recognize that interpreters are not a single source solution.

Health changes from trans-theoretical model-based education in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial

Shi, L., Wu, B., Liu, X., Ren, Y., Zhang, C., Wang, X., & Wang, L. (2025). International Journal of Nursing Studies, 162. 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104961
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Low awareness and misconceptions surrounding mild cognitive impairment highlight the urgent need for effective health education. Reluctance to seek intervention and poor adherence to management strategies make behavior-oriented health education essential. Objective: To assess the effectiveness and clinical significance of a trans-theoretical model-based health education program on cognitive-behavioral outcomes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Design: A two-arm and assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. Settings and participants: 100 community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment in Huzhou, China. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to a trans-theoretical model-based health education program (weekly 45–60 min sessions for 8 weeks, followed by 12 weeks of unsupervised practice) or a wait-list control group receiving standard health education. Disease knowledge, behavioral stage, and adherence to health management behaviors were assessed at baseline, 8-week, and 20-week. Effects were evaluated at the group level via generalized estimating equation and at the individual level using reliable and clinically significant change. Results: The trans-theoretical model-based health education program demonstrated significant effects over the wait-listed control. Generalized estimating equation analyses showed statistically significant effects on behavioral stage (β8-week = 1.04, 95%CI = 0.34–1.75; β20-week = 1.72, 95%CI = 0.95–2.49), disease knowledge (β8-week = 1.14, 95%CI = 0.26–2.02; β20-week = 1.78, 95%CI = 0.87–2.69), and adherence to health management behaviors (β8-week = 6.20, 95%CI = 2.03–10.37; β20-week = 10.74, 95%CI = 6.47–15.01) at both measured intervals. Additionally, global cognitive function (β8-week = 0.60, 95%CI = − 0.18–1.38; β20-week = 2.42, 95%CI = 1.64–3.20), Purdue Pegboard Test Assembly and Bimanual Tasks (β8-week = 0.16/0.38, 95%CI = − 0.21–0.53/− 0.18–0.94; β20-week = 0.96/1.80, 95%CI = 0.57–1.35/1.17–2.43) improved significantly over time. Reliable and clinically significant change analyses at 8 weeks indicated significant improvements in the intervention group: 57 % of participants improved in disease knowledge (22 % clinically significant), 90 % in adherence to health management behaviors (17 % clinically significant), and 61 % in global cognitive function (10 % clinically significant). By 20 weeks, these rates increased to 63 % (29 %), 100 % (25 %), and 78 % (27 %). However, non-significant improvements in depression symptoms and sleep quality were found at individual-level assessment. Conclusions: This study shows that the trans-theoretical model-based health education program effectively enhances cognitive-behavioral health outcomes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, with benefits persisting for 12 weeks. Future research should further explore the potential mechanisms underlying the cognition and behavior-enhancing effects of this program. Registration number: ChiCTR1900028351.

Measurement Practice of Slow Gait Speed for Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Wang, L., Su, L., Shi, L., Zhao, D., Zhang, C., & Wu, B. (2025). Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 26(1). 10.1016/j.jamda.2024.105361
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives: Individuals with motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome have a high dementia risk. However, a knowledge gap exists in the measurement procedure for slow gait speed, which is a crucial component of MCR diagnosis. The study aimed to systematically review slow gait speed measurement practices in MCR diagnosis to identify critical constructs in gait speed measurement procedure. Design: Systematic review. Setting and Participants: Included studies were conducted in clinical and community settings, involving participants with MCR receiving gait speed measurement. Methods: A systematic search across PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINHAL (EBSCO), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest Dissertation from inception until January 2024 for articles with detailed MCR diagnosis. Study quality was evaluated with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklists and slow gait speed measurement methods were summarized through narrative synthesis. Results: From 27,600 unique entries, 50 relevant studies with 55 cohorts were identified and included in the review. Slow gait speed measurement methods in existing MCR studies showed heterogeneity in measurement tools, start/end protocols and buffer distance, walking test distance, number of tests, calculation methods, and cutoff values. Commonly, manual stopwatches and 4-meter walking test distance with a 2-meter buffer at each end at a usual pace were used, averaging 2 tests for gait speed analysis, with the need for cohort-specific slow gait cutoff values. Conclusions and Implications: The measurement practices of slow gait speed in MCR diagnosis were heterogeneous. A relatively comprehensive gait speed measurement procedure with 7 constructs was initially delineated in this study based on synthesis analysis, with the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and consistency of MCR, although further validation is still needed.

Multiple approaches to advance health equity in nursing science: Recruitment, data, and dissemination

Wu, B., & Zhu, Z. (2025). Nursing Outlook, 73(1). 10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102343
Abstract
Abstract
Ensuring equitable care and health outcomes for all populations is essential in nursing science. However, achieving health equity in nursing science necessitates a multifaceted approach to address the complex factors influencing health disparities. This paper presented the keynote address delivered at the Advanced Methods Conference hosted by the Council for Advancement of Nursing Science in 2023. We identified critical gaps in health equity within nursing science, emphasizing the need for innovative recruitment strategies, comprehensive data analysis, and targeted dissemination efforts. This paper underscores the importance of equity in artificial intelligence research, highlighting issues such as biases in machine learning models and the underrepresentation of minoritized groups. Bridging the current gaps in health equity research within nursing science requires a systematic and forward-thinking approach.

Psychological distress in Asian American informal caregivers: an analysis by disaggregated ethnic groups

Qi, X., Wang, K., Pei, Y., Ðoàn, L. N., Yi, S. S., & Wu, B. (2025). Ethnicity and Health, 30(2), 232-253. 10.1080/13557858.2024.2430287
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Despite Asians being the fastest-growing ethnic group in the US, most studies have focused on Asian Americans as an aggregate racial/ethnic group. The burden of mental health problems is increasing among caregivers due to population aging, yet little is known about the distress experienced by Asian caregivers when examined by disaggregated ethnic groups. Methods: Using 2019–2020 California Health Interview Survey data, we examined disparities in psychological well-beings between non-Hispanic White and Asian American adult caregivers, with an emphasis on understudied Asian ethnic groups. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler 6 scale, with scores ≥6 indicating mental distress and ≥13 indicating serious mental illness. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for socio-demographics, physical health, caregiving relationship, intensity of care, and care recipients’ characteristics. Results: The study included 8,722 caregivers (mean age, 58.7 years; 61.3% women; 14.1% Asian [379 Chinese, 260 Filipino, 167 Japanese, 138 South Asian, 105 Korean, 101 Vietnamese, 78 other Asian], 85.9% White). Overall, 26.8% had mental distress, and 8.5% had serious mental illness. Compared to White caregivers, Korean American caregivers had higher odds of mental distress (Odds Ratio [OR], 2.37; 95% CI, 1.47–3.82) and serious mental illness (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.17–3.92), while Chinese (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.55–0.95) and Japanese (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.45–0.99) American caregivers had lower odds of mental distress. Korean American caregivers had the highest prevalence of mental distress (43.1%) and serious mental illness (15.3%), compared with White and other Asian American caregivers. Conclusion: Disaggregating data reveals significant mental health disparities among ethnic subgroups of Asian American caregivers. Tailored resources should address the distinct needs of ethnic subgroups of Asian American caregivers, considering language barriers, acculturation, and cultural norms that may exacerbate psychological distress.

Racial and ethnic disparities in the burden of non-obese type 2 diabetes using different anthropometric measurements

Sui, J., Wu, B., Zheng, Y., Mo, Z., Dong, Q., Ðoàn, L. N., Yi, S. S., & Qi, X. (2025). Obesity Medicine, 53. 10.1016/j.obmed.2024.100573
Abstract
Abstract
AIMS: Compare racial/ethnic disparities in the prevalence of non-obese type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the proportion of non-obese individuals among T2D patients.METHODS: This cross-sectional study used ICD-9/10 codes to ascertain T2D. Participants were classified as non-obese by BMI (<25 kg/m2 for normal weight; <23 kg/m2 for Asian Americans), waist circumference (<102 cm for males, <88 cm for females), and waist-to-hip ratio (<0.9 for males, <0.85 for females). The statistical analysis used marginal standardization of predicted probabilities from multivariable logistic regression to calculate the prevalence.KEY RESULTS: Among 276,736 participants (mean age 51.7, 61.2% female), non-obese T2D prevalence varied: 6.85% (BMI), 4.17% (waist circumference), 3.63% (waist-to-hip ratio). Asian participants had the highest prevalence of normal-weight T2D (2.70% vs. 1.92% in White, OR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.22-1.69) and non-obese T2D by waist circumference (8.04% vs. 3.36%, OR 2.61, 95% CI: 2.35-2.89). Black participants had the highest prevalence using waist-to-hip ratio (5.37% vs. 2.91%, OR 1.91, 95% CI: 1.80-2.03).CONCLUSION: Asian Americans showed higher non-obese T2D prevalence by BMI and waist circumference, while Black adults had higher prevalence by waist-to-hip ratio, suggesting different fat distribution patterns.

Age at diagnosis of diabetes, obesity, and the risk of dementia among adult patients with type 2 diabetes

Qi, X., Zhu, Z., Luo, H., Schwartz, M. D., & Wu, B. (2024). PloS One, 19(11). 10.1371/journal.pone.0310964
Abstract
Abstract
Background While Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) prevalence is increasing among younger individuals, few studies have examined how age at T2DM diagnosis relates to dementia risk in diabetic populations. We aimed to investigate the association between age at T2DM diagnosis and subsequent dementia risk, and to determine whether obesity moderates this relationship. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study using data from the Health and Retirement Study (2002–2016) matched with its 2003 Diabetes Mail-Out Survey. The study included 1,213 dementia-free adults aged ≥50 with diagnosed T2DM. Primary exposures were age at T2DM diagnosis (categorized as <50, 50–59, 60–69, and ≥70 years) and obesity status (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). The outcome was incident dementia, assessed using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, health status, and diabetes medication use. Results Over a median follow-up of 10 (interquartile range, 6–14) years, 216 (17.8%) participants developed dementia. Compared to participants diagnosed with T2DM at age ≥70 years, those diagnosed at younger ages had increased dementia risk: HR 1.70 (95% CI, 1.03–2.80) for 60–69 years, 1.72 (95% CI, 1.06–2.79) for 50–59 years, and 1.90 (95% CI, 1.14–3.18) for <50 years. Obesity significantly moderated this relationship, with obese individuals diagnosed with T2DM before age 50 showing the highest dementia risk (HR 3.05; 95% CI 1.23–7.56) compared to non-obese individuals diagnosed at ≥50 years. Conclusions Younger age at diagnosis of T2DM was significantly associated with a higher risk of dementia, particularly among individuals with obesity. Interventions specifically targeting obesity may be more effective in preventing dementia for adults with a younger onset of T2DM.

Association Between Cognitive Trajectories and Subsequent Health Status, Depressive Symptoms, and Mortality Among Older Adults in the United States: Findings From a Nationally Representative Study

Zang, E., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Wu, B., Fried, T. R., Becher, R. D., & Gill, T. M. (2024). Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 79(8). 10.1093/gerona/glae143
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Cognitive decline may be an early indicator of major health issues in older adults, though research using population-based data is lacking. Researchers objective was to assess the relationships between distinct cognitive trajectories and subsequent health outcomes, including health status, depressive symptoms, and mortality, using a nationally representative cohort. Methods: Data were drawn from the National Health and AgingTrends Study. Global cognition was assessed annually between 2011 and 2018. The health status of 4413 people, depressive symptoms in 4342 individuals, and deaths among 5955 living respondents were measured in 2019. Distinct cognitive trajectory groups were identified using an innovative Bayesian group-based trajectory model. Ordinal logistic, Poisson, and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between cognitive trajectories and subsequent health outcomes. Results: Researchers identified five cognitive trajectory groups with distinct baseline values and subsequent changes in cognitive function. Compared with the group with stably high cognitive function, worse cognitive trajectories (ie, lower baseline values and sharper declines) were associated with higher risks of poor health status, depressive symptoms, and mortality, even after adjusting for relevant covariates. Conclusions: Among older adults, worse cognitive trajectories are strongly associated with subsequent poor health status, high depressive symptoms, and high mortality risks. Regular screening of cognitive function may help to facilitate early identification and interventions for older adults susceptible to adverse health outcomes.

Association Between Oral Hygiene Behaviours and Cognitive Decline in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Zhu, Z., Yang, Z., Qi, X., Mao, W., Pei, Y., & Wu, B. (2024). Journal of Advanced Nursing. 10.1111/jan.16525
Abstract
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the association between oral hygiene behaviour and cognitive decline in adults. The outcomes include changes in global cognitive function, visual attention, task switching and the risk of dementia. Design: We conducted a systematic review following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. Data Sources: A systematic search of 11 databases and grey literature sources was conducted from inception to January 2024. We included interventional trials or cohort studies that investigated the effect of oral hygiene behaviours (e.g., toothbrushing, mouth washing, flossing, using toothpicks and cleaning dentures) on cognitive decline in adults. Methods: Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed by two independent reviewers with expertise in conducting systematic reviews. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models, and heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic and χ2 test. Results: A total of eight studies (six intervention studies and two cohort studies) met inclusion criteria, including 261,772 participants. Follow-up periods ranged from 30 days to 48 months for interventions and 9 to 18 years for cohorts. Toothbrushing was associated with a significantly slower decline in global cognitive overtime. Toothbrushing in older adults with moderate/severe dementia could achieve significant changes in cognitive decline. There was no significant difference between the effectiveness of toothbrushing performed by professionals and caregivers. Other oral hygiene behaviours, including dental flossing, using mouthwash, using toothpicks and cleaning dentures, were not associated with the risk of dementia. Conclusions: Toothbrushing is linked to a decreased risk of dementia and improved global cognitive function. Promoting toothbrushing at least twice daily may significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Impact: These findings highlight the urgent need for programmes that encourage daily toothbrushing, particularly in nursing home settings and among older adults with moderate-to-severe dementia.