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Portrait of Yura Lee (asian woman), assistant professor of social work

Yura Lee, PhD

  • Associate Professor, Social Work

Dr. Yura Lee’s research primarily focuses on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their caregivers. Dr. Lee’s dedication to ADRD research stems from her personal experience as a primary caregiver for her grandfather, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This experience has significantly influenced her gerontological social work research, which centers on two key areas: (a) identifying risk and protective factors for ADRD and age-related cognitive decline, and (b) understanding the needs and challenges faced by dementia caregivers to develop caregiver support programs using assistive technology. Dr. Lee has investigated a range of risk and protective factors for cognition, primarily guided by the cognitive reserve theory, including educational attainment, life transitions (e.g., retirement, widowhood), multiple chronic conditions, late-life engagement in activities (mental, physical, and social), and sociocultural factors (e.g., acculturation and social support). She has further explored biopsychosocial mechanisms that help elucidate pathways to health disparities in ADRD.

Dr. Lee is currently the principal investigator for the “Going Home” project, a reminiscence intervention for individuals with dementia and their family caregivers using virtual reality, funded by the Alzheimer’s Association. She also collaborates on several interdisciplinary aging research teams with scholars from diverse fields, including neurology, nursing, public health, information studies, and biomedical engineering. These projects focus on dementia care interventions and caregiver support programs utilizing assistive technology, such as (1) developing a digital memory book to enhance communication between persons with dementia and their care partners and (2) testing a digital self-care platform to enhance self-efficacy for those with dementia and other chronic conditions.

Education:

  • Ph.D., Social Work, University of Southern California, 2017
  • M.A., Social Welfare, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea, 2011
  • B.A., Social Welfare/English Language and Literature, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea, 2009

Professional Interests:

  • Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and age-related cognitive decline
  • Life transitions (e.g., retirement, loss of a spouse)
  • Physical, cognitive, and social activity engagement in later life
  • Dementia caregivers
  • Asian immigrants
  • Technology-based reminiscence program (e.g., virtual reality, digital memory book)

Recent Funding:

  • 2025-2026. Co-Investigator. Self-Care, Healing and Social Support for Dementia Patients and Their Caregivers. Bader Philanthropies. Amount: $45,000. PI: Priya Nambisan.
  • 2024-2027. Principal Investigator. Going Home: Reminiscence Intervention for Asian Immigrants with Dementia. Alzheimer’s Association (AARGD-24-1310256). Amount: $199,909. Co-Is: Zhi Zheng & Ellias Granadillo.
  • 2024-2025. Co-Investigator. A Feasibility and Quasi-Experimental Study of the “Aging Together” Peer Support Program. Bader Philanthropies. Amount: $46,500. PI: Andrew Steward.
  • 2020-2023. Principal Investigator. Exploring the Bio-Psycho-Social Mechanisms of Widowhood and Cognitive Function among U.S. Asian Older Adults. Rutgers University Asian Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research Pilot Study (under NIH/NIA Grant 1P30AG059304). Amount: $34,950.
  • 2019-2021. Study Evaluator. Fortaleciendo Puentes: A Community-Based Continuum of Dementia Capable Care for Latinos. Administration on Community Living. Amount: $984,899 (UWM: $96,747). PI: The United Community Center.
  • 2018-2020. Team Member. Assistive Technology for Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions. UWM Office of Research Collaborative Research Team Development Awards. Amount: $15,000. Team Members: Hyunkyung Oh, Wonchan Choi, Zhi Zheng, & Jinsung Wang.

Recent Publications:

  • Oh, C., Park, M. S., Lee, Y., Bong, J., & Lee, H. S. (2024). Perceived usefulness of digital memory book among family caregivers of persons with dementia with and without communication deficits. Assistive Technology, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2024.2424944
  • Park, M. S., Oh, C., Lee, Y., Bong, J., & Lee, H. S. (2024). Assessing user needs and expectations of informal care partners of people with dementia for digital memory book applications. iConference 2024 Proceedings. https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122796
  • Lee, Y., & Jiang Y. (2023). Examining sociocultural factors in widowhood and cognitive function among older Chinese immigrants: Findings from the PINE Study. Aging & Mental Health, 27(11), 2144– https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2023.2205350
  • Zheng Z., Oh, H., Mim, M., Choi, W., & Lee, Y. (2023). An exploration of robot-mediated tai chi exercise for older adults. Applied Sciences, 13(9), 5306. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095306
  • Chen, L., Zhu, Q., Xu, L., Lee, Y., & Kim, B. J. (2023). Exploring evolving caring relationship experiences among nursing home residents and nurse aides in Shanghai: A dyadic perspective. Ageing & Society, 43(10), 2447–2469. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X21001847
  • Lee, Y., Choi, W., & Park, M. (2022). Respite service use among dementia and nondementia caregivers: Findings from the National Caregiving in the U.S. 2015 Survey. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(6), 1557–1567. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648221075620
  • Park, M., Lee, Y., & Choi, W. (2022). Understanding the research landscape of information and communication technology integration in dementia-focused assistive technologies: Mining literature from 1970 to 2020. Gerontechnology, 21(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2022.21.1.798.12
  • Choi, W., Park, M. S., & Lee, Y. (2022). Associations between mastery of life and everyday life information‐seeking behavior among older adults: Analysis of the Pew Research Center’s information engaged and information wary survey data. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 73(3), 393–406. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24556
  • Lee, Y., & Cho, C. C. (2021). Examining the effects of multiple chronic conditions on cognitive decline and potential moderators among older Koreans: Findings from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing 2006–2016. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 95, 104424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2021.104424
  • Lee, Y., Cho, Y., & Oh, H. (2021). Multiple chronic conditions and risk of dementia and cognitive impairment: Findings from the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS). Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition, 28(4), 493–507. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2020.1790492
  • Xu, L., Lee, Y., Kim, B. J., & Chen L. (2021). Determinants of discretionary and non-discretionary service utilization among caregivers of people with dementia: Focusing on the race/ethnic differences. Home Health Care Services Quarterly, 40(1), 75–92. https://doi.org/10.1080/01621424.2020.1805083
  • Google Scholar Link