Lianlian Lei, PhD

Lianlian Lei
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Medical School
Available to mentor
Lianlian Lei, PhD
Lianlian Lei
Assistant Professor
  • About
  • Links
  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
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  • About

    Dr. Lei earned her Ph.D. in Health Services Research & Policy from the University of Rochester. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and a member of the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation (IHPI). She aims to improve health and wellbeing of frail, older adults through rigorous research that could impact health policy.

    Links

    • https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hTAUpukAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
    • https://x.com/LianlianLei

    Qualifications

    • Postdoctoral Research Fellow
      University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Geriatric Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, United States
      2020 - 2023
      Postdoctoral Fellowship
    • Ph.D., Health Services Research and Policy
      University of Rochester, Rochester, United States
      2014 - 2020
    • M.A., Economics
      Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, China
      2011 - 2013
    • B.S., Economics
      Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China
      2007 - 2011

    Center Memberships

    • Center Member
      Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation

    Research Overview

    Dr. Lei’s research focuses on aging, dementia care, caregivers, and Medicare Advantage. She uses nationally representative survey and claims data and causal inference methodologies to examine factors linked with health care costs and utilization among older adults, particularly those living with dementia. Dr. Lei is currently studying the impact of informal caregiving on health care use of both older adults with dementia and caregivers. Dr. Lei is also interested in the impact of Medicare Advantage on health care among older adults.

    Recent Publications

    See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Consistency of a Dementia Diagnosis Between Systems for Patients Receiving Care Through the VA, Traditional Medicare, and Medicare Advantage
      Lei L, Krein SL, Petzold K, Kim HM, Intrator O, Van Houtven CH, Min L, Strominger J, Maust DT. Medical Care, 2026 Aug 1; 64 (8): 512 - 520. DOI:10.1097/MLR.0000000000002342
      PMID: 42240107
    • Journal Article
      Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease as a Qualifying Condition for Medical Cannabis in the United States: A Brief Report on Current Trends
      Bonar EE, Tan CY, Patyk A, Lei L, Maust DT. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2026 Apr 1; 34 (4): 639 - 644. DOI:10.1016/j.jagp.2025.06.003
      PMID: 40592641
    • Journal Article
      Driving after cannabis consumption among US adults ages 50 years and older: A short communication.
      Bonar EE, Lei L, Kirch M, Hassett KP, Solway E, Singer DC, Strunk SN, Roberts JS, Malani PN, Kullgren JT. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2025 Nov 21;
    • Presentation
      Consistency of a Dementia Diagnosis between Systems for Patients Receiving Care
      Lei L. 2026 Jul 28;
    • Journal Article
      Older Adults’ Perspectives on and Experiences with Cannabis Use: Results From the 2024 National Poll on Healthy Aging
      Bonar E, Solway E, Lei L, Kirch M, Singer D, Strunk S, Roberts JS, Malani P. Innovation in Aging, 2026 Jan 4; 9 (Supplement_2): igaf122.1969 DOI:10.1093/geroni/igaf122.1969
      PMID: PMC12763590
    • Additional Scholarship
      5 things everyone with Medicare should do right now
      Gavin K. 2026 Jul 28;
    • Journal Article
      Support and Internet Use in Navigating Medicare Plans Among Older Americans
      Lei L, Petzold K, Strominger J, Maust DT. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2026 Jul 28; 73 (9): 2923 - 2927. DOI:10.1111/jgs.19516
    • Additional Scholarship
      Sandwich Generation Stress: How to Cope With Kids and Aging Parents
      Donvito T. 2026 Jul 28;

    Featured News & Stories

    A child's hand holding on to an elderly person's index finger. (Photo by Loume Visser on Unsplash)
    Department News

    Lianlian Lei, Ph.D., quoted in Parents story: Nearly 1 in 4 Adults Are in the ‘Sandwich Generation’—Here’s What That Really Means for Families

    Adults are part of the 'sandwich generation' if they are caring for both their children and their aging parents.
    Medicare on a piece of paper
    Health Lab

    5 things everyone with Medicare should do right now

    Part D prescription coverage and Medigap can be confusing. Follow these tips informed by U-M research.
    medicare & you document with wallet open with dollar bills coming out
    Health Lab

    As Medicare turns 60, research shows more need for enrollment help

    Medicare research shows many older adults don’t get help or don’t use the internet to pick a plan that’s right for them, and that people with dementia make similar choices to those without.
    Department News

    'Sandwich generation' caregivers caught between two generations in need

    Sandwich caregivers juggle raising kids and caring for aging parents, facing emotional, financial, and health challenges from their dual roles.