Bei Wu Wins $4M Grant to Investigate Links Between Oral Health and Alzheimer's

Vice Dean for Research Bei Wu, PhD,  has won a $3.9 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to investigate biological and social links between oral health, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.

Nearly seven million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, and that number is projected to nearly double by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association of America. While recent research suggests a significant association between poor oral health and an increased risk of developing dementia, the specific nature of that connection remains largely unexplored. Wu’s five-year study aims to address critical gaps in understanding how poor oral health influences dementia, particularly its association with subtypes like Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.

"This study represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the complex relationship between oral health and dementia," said Wu, who also is the Dean’s Professor in Global Health. "By investigating the underlying biological mechanisms and social determinants, we hope to reveal new strategies for preventing or delaying dementia onset."

Wu and her team, a multidisciplinary group of experts from various institutions, will analyze multiple, extensive population-based datasets. The research team hypothesizes that poor oral health will be associated with the presence of clinical biomarkers of dementia and the incidence of Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia. They also anticipate finding that systemic inflammation and accelerated biological aging will influence the connection  between poor oral health, Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.

"Our findings could reveal the causal relationship between oral health and dementia,” said Huabin Luo, PhD, who is an associate professor of public health at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and a co-principal investigator for the study. “This knowledge could lead to targeted strategies for reducing dementia risk and improving how we prevent, diagnose, and treat these conditions. Ultimately, we hope to influence public health policies and medical practices, emphasizing the importance of oral health in maintaining brain health, especially among the aging population."

The other team members include: Xiang Qi, PhD,  NYU Meyers; Angela Kamer, DMD, PhD, NYU College of Dentistry,  Alex Dahlen, PhD, NYU School of Global Public Health and  (NYU School of Global Public Health) and Hullin Lu, PhD, NYU Langone Health. The collaboration also includes Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, scientific director at National Institute on Aging and Qu (Teresa) Tian, PhD, an epidemiologist at the NIA, who have extensive experience in aging research and neuroimaging studies. 

“This project is just the latest example of Bei Wu’s commitment to intersectional, interdisciplinary work,” said Dean Angela Amar. “She sees connections, fosters collaboration and leverages both to address the nation’s most pressing public health challenges.”