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UCSF researcher Daniel Mathalon, MD, PhD, believes that burgeoning knowledge about biomarkers — biological measures of a medical condition that also serve as markers of treatment effectiveness — could help intercept schizophrenia.
Tau proteins play an important role in our normal brain function, mainly by helping to stabilize neurons in the brain. But in Alzheimer’s disease, tau proteins can misfold and tangle inside neurons.
A UCSF team finds a liver protein, released with exercise, that improves memory in aging and Alzheimer’s disease by repairing the brain’s blood vessels. It's the missing link between exercise and brain rejuvenation that many have been hunting for.
How we learn to predict an outcome isn’t determined by how many times a cue and reward happen together. Instead, how much time passes between rewards is also important. Understanding this process has implications for how we think about addiction, and could also point to faster AI algorithms.summary
For years, scientists have studied how the brain controls movement by asking patients to perform structured tasks while connected to multiple sensors in a lab. While these studies have provided
In the wake of a recent outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB cases at a local San Francisco high school, IGHS's Priya Shete tells us what to know about latent TB.
A UCSF study found that a "collaborative care" model for dementia patients improved quality of life, reduced costs, alleviated caregiver burden, and extended the time that patients remained in the community before entering a nursing facility, as compared to standard medication therapy.
A study from UCSF shows a previously unknown connection between the Epstein-Barr virus, known to play a role in MS, and an understudied type of immune cell.
The hormone’s role in women’s health reaches far beyond reproduction.
Researchers found a "garbage man" enzyme that tags toxic clumps of proteins in the brain for removal, and saw a correlation with resilience against dementia.
Close to 40% of adult patients receive post-acute care (PAC) when they are discharged from a hospital. That can include receiving help at home or going to a specialized facility, including a skilled
UCSF scientists engineered old fibroblast cells to turn their genes on and off in the same way as young fibroblasts. The old fibroblasts were rejuvenated: they multiplied (green) and produced more of the material used to make the "skeletons," or extracellular matrix, of our organs (red). Image by Li Lab
In the last few years, progress has been made in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease with a class of therapies called anti-amyloid antibodies (anti-Aβ). These monoclonal anti-Aβs are proteins made
Matthew Growdon's study finds "prescription cascades" where drug side effects lead to unnecessary second prescriptions, causing further harm and costly hospitalizations.
Scientists have thought that when we hear language, the brain processes it the same way, whether it's familiar or foreign. A new study reveals that exposure to a language changes how certain clusters of neurons respond to the familiar sounds. From those changes, we develop the understanding of syllables, words, and syntax.
New research shows how brain networks differ in neurodiverse children who are and aren't resilient in the face of sensory overload.
Senescent fibroblasts are aging cells in connective tissue that no longer divide and protect against tumor development. Yet, these same cells can promote cancer growth in a laboratory setting.Until
A study found that drinking at least a cup of caffeinated coffee daily significantly lowered the risk of atrial fibrillation, a common heart condition.
New testing in maternal hyperoxia — giving extra oxygen to pregnant people — shows that prenatal interventions might yield better outcomes for babies with congenital heart disease.
UCSF researchers used AI to personalize Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's gait problems, leading to meaningful, customized improvements in walking and mobility—a major breakthrough for patients.
Doctors have reduced opioid prescribing since the opioid epidemic’s peak, but a UCSF study found that this trend affects nursing home residents with chronic pain. An analysis of 3M residents saw declines in opioid use, with racial disparities in prescribing.
Neurologist Dr. Ptacek explains how "falling back" disrupts the 24-hour circadian clock, affecting mood and performance, with mitigation tips.
Martin Kampmann’s work, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), maps cellular “decision points” that determine whether brain cells survive or die, laying the groundwork for treatments that intervene before irreversible brain damage occurs from dementia.
Image In the human brain, neurofilament light chain (NfL, shown in brown) is seen in brain cells and the neural wires that connect them. UCSF
New research shows that the surrounding cells and tissues of the ovary play a crucial role in how eggs mature and how quickly fertility wanes.
