Xiang Qi

Faculty

Xiang Qi headshot

Xiang Qi

PhD RN

Assistant Professor

1 212 992 5797

433 First Ave
New York, NY 10010
United States

Accepting PhD students

Xiang Qi, PhD, RN, is an Assistant Professor at the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. A nurse-scientist with interdisciplinary training in gerontology and neurobiology, Prof. Qi’s research program operates at the critical intersection of geriatric oral health, social epidemiology & psychiatry, and dementia caregiving, with the goal of reducing disparities in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among older populations in the U.S. and globally. Qi is an expert in data science and advanced quantitative methods, including machine learning, multilevel modeling, and causal inference. He has extensive experience analyzing large-scale population health datasets and electronic health records to map the social determinants of health.

Qi is currently the principal investigator of an NIH-funded R01 project investigating the social and biological pathways linking poor oral health to dementia subtypes. His research challenges the historical separation of dental and medical care, providing robust evidence that oral health is a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. His landmark research established a strong relationship between poor oral health and dementia risk, a finding that has reshaped clinical conversations around preventative oral care. Furthermore, his advocacy for including oral health in global dementia prevention guidelines was published in The Lancet.

In parallel, Qi is a leading voice in Asian American health research. He leads multiple NIH-funded studies (NIMHD P50, NIA P30) that utilize data disaggregation to reveal hidden disparities in cardiometabolic disease, mental health, and cognitive aging among diverse Asian American subgroups. Prior to his faculty appointment, Qi served as a postdoctoral research scientist at the Rutgers-NYU Center for Asian Health Promotion and Excellence, where he contributed to a community-based participatory intervention to support Chinese and Korean family caregivers of people with dementia.

His research has been featured by major media outlets such as CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Science News, and The Toronto Star. He serves on the Editorial Boards of Innovation in Aging and Discover Public Health. He has also held key roles within the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Oral Health Interest Group, contributing to reports that advocate for expanded Medicare dental coverage. He further serves on advisory boards for community organizations like CaringKind and VNS Health, helping to bridge research with real-world improvements in dementia care.

PhD in Nursing Research and Theory Development, New York University
Exchange Program in Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, University of California, Davis
BS, Fudan University
Gerontology
Oral-systemic health
Public and Global Health
Underserved populations
Alzheimer’s Association International Society
New York Academy of Medicine
Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society
Gerontological Society of American
Eastern Nursing Research Society
Research Poster Award, Health Equity Action Network (2024)
Minority Issues in Gerontology Student Poster Award, Gerontological Society of American (2023)
2022-2023 Outstanding PhD Dissertation Award, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing (2023)
The Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization – Best Poster Award, Gerontological Society of American (2022)
Minority Issues in Gerontology Student Poster Award, Gerontological Society of American (2022)
The Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization – Carol Schutz Student Travel Award, Gerontological Society of American (2022)
FIRE Doctoral Student Research Leadership Award, New York Academy of Medicine (2022)
Douglas Holmes Emerging Scholar Paper Award, Gerontological Society of American (2022)
Student Registration Award, Gerontological Society of American (2021)
Excellent Graduate of Shanghai, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (2019)
National Undergraduate Scholarship, Ministry of Education of China (2018)
Research and Innovation Award, Fudan University, Fudan University, Shanghai, China (2018)
Overseas Exchange Outstanding Student Scholarship, Fudan University, China (2017)
The First Prize Scholarship, Fudan University, China (2016)
Excellent Student Leader, Fudan University, China (2015)

Disease burden attributable to intimate partner violence against females and sexual violence against children in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023

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Violence against women and against children are human rights violations with lasting harms to survivors and societies at large. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence against children (SVAC) are two major forms of such abuse. Despite their wide-reaching effects on individual and community health, these risk factors have not been adequately prioritised as key drivers of global health burden. Comprehensive x§and reliable estimates of the comparative health burden of IPV and SVAC are urgently needed to inform investments in prevention and support for survivors at both national and global levels.

Oral health conditions and domain-specific cognitive decline in older adults: evidence from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging 2005-2024

Qi, X., Qi, X., Tian, Q., Luo, H., Resnick, S. M., Ferrucci, L., & Wu, B. (2026). In The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences (Vols. 81, Issues 3).
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While associations between poor oral health and cognitive impairment are documented, research on how different oral health conditions relate to specific cognitive measures remains limited.

Pain prevalence and pain management at the end of life: regional and urban-rural differences from a national-representative survey of Chinese older adults

Qi, X., Pei, Y., Qi, X., Zhou, Z., Lou, Y., Wang, J., Li, Y., & Wu, B. (2026). In The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences (Vols. 81, Issues 3).
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Effective pain management is essential for improving quality of life at the end of life. However, challenges persist globally, particularly in China, where palliative care remains underdeveloped. This study investigates pain prevalence and the associations between pain severity, place of death, and the quality of pain management among older adults in China, with a focus on regional and urban-rural disparities.

Accelerated biological aging mediates the association between periodontal disease and cognitive function in older adults

Qi, X., Qi, X., Luo, H., Xu, Z., Liu, R., & Wu, B. (2025). In Innovation in Aging (Vols. 9, Issues 9, p. igaf086).
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Acculturation, Socioeconomic Status, and Cognitive Functioning Among Older Immigrants in the United States: An Interaction Analysis

Qi, X., Qi, X., Ali, S. H., Pei, Y., & Wu, B. (2025). In Journal of Applied Gerontology (p. 07334648251400488).
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Adverse events and contributing factors in Chinese nursing homes : a multisite cross-sectional study

Wang, Z., Qi, X., Shi, Y., Shao, L., Li, W., Xie, X., Wu, B., & Zhang, J. (2025). In Frontiers in Public Health (Vols. 13). 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1518552
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Background: Adverse events in nursing homes, which are unintended incidents causing unnecessary harm to older residents. Previous studies in Chinese populations often focused on adverse events in hospitals, rather than residents in nursing homes. Additionally, they tended to focus on single incident rather than multiple types of adverse events. This study aims to assess the occurrence and contributing factors of multiple adverse events perceived by staff in Chinese nursing homes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 691 frontline staff from 11 nursing homes in Southern China (August 2021–January 2022). Data were collected using a General Information Questionnaire, the Adverse Event Reporting Awareness Scale, and the Adverse Event Reporting Habit Scale. Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the contributing factors of adverse events. Results: A total of 13 types of adverse events were screened out in nursing homes, and 477 (69.0%) participants reported that the adverse events “had happened” in the past year. The most common events were falls, unplanned extubation, and pressure sores. Clinical staff were 2.06 times more likely than frontline workers to report adverse events (95% CI = 1.13–3.76). Increased awareness (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.15–1.34) and habitual reporting of adverse events (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01–1.08) were positively associated with higher reporting rates. Conclusion: A significant proportion of staff reported adverse events, with clinical staff and those with better reporting habits noting higher occurrences. To enhance resident safety, nursing homes must prioritize preventing high-risk adverse events. Targeting frontline workers with lower reporting awareness and habits is crucial for effective interventions.

Association of gum treatment with cognitive decline and dementia risk among older adults with periodontal symptoms: a 12-year prospective cohort study

Qi, X., Qi, X., Zhu, Z., Wang, K., Zheng, Y., Li, A. n., & Wu, B. (2025). In Neuroepidemiology (Vols. 59, Issues 4, p. 313-322).
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The association of hemopexin, muscle quality, and sarcopenia in Japanese older adults with cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study

Qi, X., Zeng, D., Mizutani, K., Qi, X., Asada-Utsugi, M., Wu, B., Kawasaki, T., Akiguchi, I., & Kinoshita, A. (2025). In BMC geriatrics (Vols. 25, Issue 1, p. 332).
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Beyond Somatic Multimorbidity: Longitudinal Effects of Edentulism and Mental Health on Cognition in Older Adults

Qi, X., Liu, R., Qi, X., Luo, H., Xu, Z., & Wu, B. (2025). In Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (Vols. 26, Issues 11, p. 105839).
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Buffering Effects of Internet Use on Caregiving-Related Health Impacts and Loneliness Among Older Informal Caregivers in California: Cross-Sectional Study

Qi, X., Qi, X., Liu, R., Ko, E., Pei, Y., & Wu, B. (2025). In JMIR aging (Vols. 8, p. e74209).
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Loneliness has emerged as a global public health issue, with recent data indicating that 27.6% of adults aged 65 to 80 report feelings of loneliness despite the postpandemic resumption of social activities. Older caregivers face unique challenges that may exacerbate feelings of loneliness due to the demanding nature of caregiving responsibilities. While internet use has been suggested as a potential intervention to reduce loneliness, its moderating effect on the relationship between caregiving-related health effects and loneliness remains understudied.