Ling Han, MD, PhD, MS
Senior Research Scientist (Geriatrics)Cards
About
Titles
Senior Research Scientist (Geriatrics)
Biography
Dr. Han completed his medical training, practiced psychiatry and taught courses in general psychiatry and clinical psychometry for medical universities for thirteen years in China before coming to the United States for post-graduate training under ECFMG’s IMSP fellowship in 1994. Subsequently he obtained a MSc and a PhD degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from McGill University, Montral, Canada. He jointed Yale School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine in 2001 and now is a Senior Research Scientist and biostatistician with Yale Department of Internal Medicine/Geriactics and Program on Aging. His main research interests included longitudinal modeling of cognitive and functional decline of older persons, quasi-experimental design and analyses of medical interventions, risk assessment for anticholinergic drug burden and polypharmacy, and multi-level modeling of individual and contextual determinants of health outcomes. His research achievements included two WHO awards for Chinese Young Professionals, the development of common ARC (Annual Rate of Change) for Alzheimer’s disease progression, the development of clinician rated anticholinergic score (CR-ACHS) for assessing cumulative anticholinergic drug burden on cognitive risk, and more than 100 peer reviewed research publications as the primary or a coauthor.
Appointments
Geriatric Medicine
Senior Research ScientistPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- McGill University, Epidemiology & Biostatistics (2006)
- MS
- McGill University, Epidemiology & Biostatistics (2000)
- Research Fellow
- McGill University (1999)
- Visiting Associate
- National Institutes of Health (1997)
- ECFMG Fellow
- University of Wasgington (1995)
- MD
- Hunan Medical University, Mental Health Institute/Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry (1988)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Activities of Daily Living; Alzheimer Disease; Chronic Disease; Cognition Disorders; Delirium; Depressive Disorder; Pain
Public Health Interests
Aging; Epidemiology Methods; Health Care Quality, Efficiency; Mental Health; Modeling
Publications
Featured Publications
Association Between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Functional Well-being in Community-Living Older Persons
Gill TM, Zang EX, Murphy TE, Leo-Summers L, Gahbauer EA, Festa N, Falvey JR, Han L. Association Between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Functional Well-being in Community-Living Older Persons. JAMA Internal Medicine 2021, 181: 1297-1304. PMID: 34424276, PMCID: PMC8383163, DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.4260.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsActivities of Daily LivingAgedFemaleFunctional StatusHealthy Life ExpectancyHousing QualityHumansIndependent LivingLongitudinal StudiesMaleMental HealthNeighborhood CharacteristicsPrognosisPsychosocial FunctioningQuality of LifeSocial Determinants of HealthSocioeconomic FactorsUnited StatesConceptsProspective longitudinal cohort studyCommunity-living older personsAge 70 yearsActive life expectancyLongitudinal cohort studyOlder personsCohort studyPrognostic factorsLife expectancyArea deprivation index scoreCommunity-living personsPrecipitating Events ProjectDeprivation index scoreDisabled life expectancyAge 90 yearsArea Deprivation IndexPublic health initiativesPublic health interventionsNeighborhood disadvantageGreater percentageResource-poor environmentsIndividual-level socioeconomic characteristicsMean ageMAIN OUTCOMEDaily livingEvaluation of Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches Among US Veterans with Musculoskeletal Pain Using Propensity Score Methods
Han L, Goulet JL, Skanderson M, Bathulapalli H, Luther SL, Kerns RD, Brandt CA. Evaluation of Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches Among US Veterans with Musculoskeletal Pain Using Propensity Score Methods. Pain Medicine 2018, 20: 90-102. PMID: 29584926, PMCID: PMC6329442, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pny027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntegrative health approachesPS matchingCIH exposureMusculoskeletal painPropensity score methodsSelf-rated pain intensityHealth approachHigher pain intensity ratingsPain intensity outcomesChronic musculoskeletal painPain intensity ratingsIPTW modelsRetrospective cohortPain intensityChronic painClinical visitsInitial diagnosisChiropractic careUS veteransBaseline differencesTreatment weightingExposure groupPainScore methodTreatment effectivenessCognitive Aging Trajectories and Burdens of Disability, Hospitalization and Nursing Home Admission Among Community-living Older Persons
Han L, Gill TM, Jones BL, Allore HG. Cognitive Aging Trajectories and Burdens of Disability, Hospitalization and Nursing Home Admission Among Community-living Older Persons. The Journals Of Gerontology Series A 2015, 71: 766-771. PMID: 26511011, PMCID: PMC4888384, DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glv159.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNursing home admissionBurden of disabilityCommunity-living older personsHome admissionOlder personsGreater burdenCognitive trajectoriesMini-Mental State ExaminationCommunity-living personsCognitive aging trajectoriesNursing home placementPrecipitating Events ProjectLow incidence rateEquation Poisson modelsRapid cognitive declineBaseline cognitive functionAging trajectoriesGroup-based trajectory modelsThird of participantsADL disabilityHigher baseline cognitive functionInstrumental ADLIncidence rateDaily livingHospitalizationUse of Medications With Anticholinergic Effect Predicts Clinical Severity of Delirium Symptoms in Older Medical Inpatients
Han L, McCusker J, Cole M, Abrahamowicz M, Primeau F, Elie M. Use of Medications With Anticholinergic Effect Predicts Clinical Severity of Delirium Symptoms in Older Medical Inpatients. JAMA Internal Medicine 2001, 161: 1099-1105. PMID: 11322844, DOI: 10.1001/archinte.161.8.1099.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDelirium severityACH medicationsMedication exposureDelirium symptomsMedical inpatientsInpatients 65 yearsModifiable risk factorsOlder medical inpatientsUse of medicationsPresence of dementiaElderly medical inpatientsMixed linear regression modelsAnticholinergic medicationsACh effectsAnticholinergic effectsMedication usePrevalent deliriumDelirium IndexRisk factorsClinical severityMedicationsDeliriumSymptom severityLongitudinal associationsSeverityCumulative Anticholinergic Exposure Is Associated with Poor Memory and Executive Function in Older Men
Han L, Agostini JV, Allore HG. Cumulative Anticholinergic Exposure Is Associated with Poor Memory and Executive Function in Older Men. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society 2008, 56: 2203-2210. PMID: 19093918, PMCID: PMC3952110, DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.02009.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTotal anticholinergic burdenCumulative anticholinergic exposureOlder menAnticholinergic medicationsAnticholinergic burdenAnticholinergic exposureCumulative exposureVeterans Affairs primary care clinicsExecutive functionAnticholinergic medication useDeleterious adverse effectsProspective cohort studySeverity of hypertensionCommunity-dwelling menPrimary care clinicsDaily Living ScalePotential risk factorsPrescription of drugsAnticholinergic scoreCohort studyMultiple medicationsAnticholinergic effectsMedication useCare clinicsPhysical functionTOP CITED PAPERS IN INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRICS: 6c. TRACKING COGNITIVE DECLINE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE USING THE MINI-MENTAL STATE EXAMINATION: A META-ANALYSIS (“MINI” IS NOT NECESSARILY TRIVIAL!)
Han L, Ames D. TOP CITED PAPERS IN INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRICS: 6c. TRACKING COGNITIVE DECLINE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE USING THE MINI-MENTAL STATE EXAMINATION: A META-ANALYSIS (“MINI” IS NOT NECESSARILY TRIVIAL!). International Psychogeriatrics 2009, 21: 1037-1040. PMID: 19747422, DOI: 10.1017/s1041610209990883.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpioid dosing trends over eight years among US Veterans with musculoskeletal disorders after returning from service in support of recent conflicts
Han L, Allore H, Goulet J, Bathulapali H, Skanderson M, Brandt C, Haskell S, Krebs E. Opioid dosing trends over eight years among US Veterans with musculoskeletal disorders after returning from service in support of recent conflicts. Annals Of Epidemiology 2017, 27: 563-569.e3. PMID: 28890282, PMCID: PMC5647654, DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.08.015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAnalgesics, OpioidChronic PainDrug PrescriptionsElectronic PrescribingFemaleHumansMaleMental HealthMiddle AgedMusculoskeletal DiseasesOpioid-Related DisordersPrescription DrugsStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransVeterans HealthYoung AdultConceptsHigh-dose prescribingOpioid prescriptionsMental health diagnosesMusculoskeletal disordersDaily morphine equivalentsHealth diagnosisHigh-dose therapyLong-term opioidsHigh-dose prescriptionsAverage daily dosePosttraumatic stress disorderMorphine equivalentsDose therapyDaily dosePatient characteristicsChronic painUS veteransOdds ratioPrescribingStress disorderBaseline periodGeographic confoundingVeteransPrescriptionOpioidsTransitions Between Frailty States Among Community-Living Older Persons
Gill TM, Gahbauer EA, Allore HG, Han L. Transitions Between Frailty States Among Community-Living Older Persons. JAMA Internal Medicine 2006, 166: 418-423. PMID: 16505261, DOI: 10.1001/archinte.166.4.418.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFrailty stateOlder personsCommunity-living older personsCommunity-living personsLow physical activitySlow walking speedFrailty transitionsMuscle weaknessProspective studyGreater frailtyNatural courseLess frailtyPhysical activityDaily livingFrailtyWalking speedsWeight lossNonfrailMonthsPersonsParticipantsPrefrailCriteriaPreventionUse of Self-Matching to Control for Stable Patient Characteristics While Addressing Time-Varying Confounding on Treatment Effect: A Case Study of Older Intensive Care Patients
Han L, Pisani MA, Araujo KL, Allore HG. Use of Self-Matching to Control for Stable Patient Characteristics While Addressing Time-Varying Confounding on Treatment Effect: A Case Study of Older Intensive Care Patients. International Journal Of Statistics In Medical Research 2016, 5: 8-16. PMID: 27123153, PMCID: PMC4844076, DOI: 10.6000/1929-6029.2016.05.01.2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDelirium severity scoresIntensive care unitSeverity scoreOld intensive care patientsIntensive care patientsOlder medical patientsDose of haloperidolStable patient characteristicsICU stayBaseline characteristicsAcute outcomesPatient characteristicsCare patientsCare unitMeasures of exposureMedical patientsAntipsychotic medicationFull cohortPatientsStable baselineAnalytic sampleTreatment effectsHaloperidolCohortScoresAre China’s oldest-old living longer with less disability? A longitudinal modeling analysis of birth cohorts born 10 years apart
Liu Z, Han L, Feng Q, Dupre ME, Gu D, Allore HG, Gill TM, Payne CF. Are China’s oldest-old living longer with less disability? A longitudinal modeling analysis of birth cohorts born 10 years apart. BMC Medicine 2019, 17: 23. PMID: 30704529, PMCID: PMC6357399, DOI: 10.1186/s12916-019-1259-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPartial life expectancyLess disabilityBirth cohortOldest old livingLife expectancyAge groupsHigher healthcare costsDisability-free life expectancySuccessive birth cohortsOldest-old individualsOctogenarian womenMultistate life tablesSubgroup analysisAge 80Healthcare costsRural residenceUrban-rural disparitiesOctogenariansCohortHealth inequalitiesPersonal assistanceDisability transitionsDisabilityNonagenariansSociodemographic heterogeneity
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News & Links
News
- April 03, 2025
Identifying Factors Associated With Diminished Active Life Expectancy Among Older Adults
- October 25, 2023
Assessing Symptoms in Older Adults After Critical Illness
- October 13, 2022
Discoveries & Impact (October 2022)
- September 16, 2021
Discoveries & Impact (September 2021)
Get In Touch
Contacts
Email
Academic Office Number
Mailing Address
Yale School of Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine/Geriatrics and Program on Aging, 300 George St Suite 775
New Haven, CT 06511-6664
United States
Locations
Yale Program on Aging
Academic Office
300 George Street, Fl 7, Ste 775
New Haven, CT 06511