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University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences


“Why can’t we all just get along?” Study reveals how mice and AI learn to cooperate

Researchers found that mice and AI agents developed similar behavioral strategies and neural representations when coordinating their actions, suggesting fundamental principles of cooperation transcend biology and technology. Mice learned to coordinate actions through three key behaviors: approaching partners' sides, waiting for arrival...

“High-markup” hospitals are overwhelmingly for-profit, located in large metropolitan areas and have the worst patient outcomes

Research at UCLA Health Sciences found that high-markup hospitals charge up to 17 times the true cost of care, resulting in poorer patient outcomes, including higher complication and readmission rates. Patients treated at these hospitals often experience financial toxicity or medical bankruptcy.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJAMA Surgery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 24, 2025

Mammograms may benefit women well into their 80s, UCLA study finds

A new study from the University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences suggests that regular mammograms may still offer significant benefits for women in their 80s. The study found that screened women were more likely to have surgery to remove the tumor and had a lower risk of cancer returning and dying compared to unscreened women.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalAnnals of Surgical Oncology·DateSep 22, 2025

Alzheimer’s disease digital resources lacking for Latinos, Hispanics in Los Angeles years after COVID-19, study finds

A UCLA Health study found that only a handful of top Alzheimer's disease organizations in Los Angeles County had features or tools to improve access for Latino and Hispanic families. The study highlights the need for accessible digital solutions to close the existing digital divide among these communities.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·DateSep 10, 2025

UCLA researchers find how epilepsy genes disrupt different brain regions using stem cell models

Researchers found distinct effects of single disease-causing gene variants across different brain regions, pointing to hippocampal disruptions as a key factor in cognitive problems beyond seizures. This study provides an early step toward understanding why current treatments often fall short and may help identify new therapies.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2025

How stress and social struggles fuel America’s obesity crisis

A new scientific review reveals that stress, hardship, and social challenges reshape a person's gut bacteria and brain performance, making it harder to keep weight off. Social determinants of health play a key role in obesity risk, and addressing these conditions is crucial for long-term solutions.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 4, 2025

Are probiotics worth the cost to prevent infection after a colon removal surgery?

A UCLA Health study found that taking an 8-strain probiotic daily reduces the risk of pouchitis, a common inflammatory condition. However, the treatment's cost-effectiveness depends on the patient's likelihood of flare-ups, with benefits only seen in patients with frequent relapses.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalGastro Hep Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 3, 2025

California program successfully scales emergency department addiction treatment statewide

The CA Bridge program successfully implemented opioid use disorder treatment services across over 80% of California's emergency departments, treating 165,000 patients with nearly 45,000 instances of buprenorphine treatment. This initiative demonstrates the potential for emergency departments to serve as critical entry points for addict...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalHealth Affairs·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 2, 2025

Many patients with advanced cancer feel their treatment is not aligned with their personal care goals

A new study led by UCLA researchers found that many patients with advanced cancer feel their treatment does not align with their personal care goals. The study reveals a significant disparity in care preferences between patients with advanced cancer and those with other serious illnesses, suggesting a need for improved communication an...

Researchers map epigenomic landscapes of fat tissue cells, revealing how they shape obesity risk

A new study creates a single-cell map of epigenomic regulation in human fat tissue, revealing how genetic risk factors contribute to abdominal obesity. The research identifies key regulatory regions in fat cells where obesity-linked variants reside, offering new clues to the genetic and epigenetic regulation of body fat.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNature Genetics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 20, 2025

Off-the-shelf cancer vaccine elicits strong immune response in patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancer

A novel cancer vaccine has shown encouraging early results in patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancer, two of the most difficult-to-treat malignancies. The vaccine targets KRAS mutations found in about 25% of solid tumors and drives about 90% of pancreatic cancers and 50% of colorectal cancers.

Virtual reality shows promise in easing stress for cardiac patients, UCLA Health study finds

A new study from UCLA Health suggests that virtual reality (VR) may offer a promising tool to ease psychological stress and support heart health. After a VR session, many patients experienced a significant impact on their psychological state, with reduced anxiety and increased vagal tone.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeObservational study·DateAug 6, 2025

Reliance on administrative billing codes to track medical conditions can lead to high diagnostic error rates

Researchers found that billing codes may mistakenly identify diseases in up to 45% of cases, highlighting a significant limitation in using administrative data for clinical research. The study examined records of 1.36 million patients and found discrepancies between coded diagnoses and actual disease presence.

Improving colorectal cancer prevention and treatment for Black Americans

Colorectal cancer claims more lives in Black communities than any other racial group, with incidence and mortality rates about 20% and 30% higher respectively. A new review by UCLA researchers highlights the need for equal access to screening, diagnosis, and treatment to eliminate these disparities.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology·DateJul 24, 2025

Power in numbers: Small group professional coaching reduces rates of physician burnout by nearly 30%

Researchers found that small group professional coaching reduced physician burnout rates by nearly 30%, with participants experiencing significant improvements in work-life balance, self-efficacy, and social support. In contrast, one-on-one coaching resulted in a 13.5% reduction in burnout rates.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 11, 2025

New study maps four key pathways to Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers identified four distinct pathways leading to Alzheimer's disease, revealing how conditions progress step-by-step toward the condition. The study validated findings in a nationally diverse population, suggesting that understanding these pathways could fundamentally change how clinicians approach early detection and prevention.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalEBioMedicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 7, 2025

First-of-its-kind study finds striking parallels between biological and artificial intelligence during social interaction

A groundbreaking study reveals that biological brains and AI systems develop similar neural patterns during social interaction, with synchronized patterns driving social behaviors. The research has significant implications for understanding human social disorders and developing socially-aware AI systems.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 2, 2025

AI model converts hospital records into text for better emergency care decisions

Researchers developed an AI model that converts fragmented electronic health records into readable narratives, enabling artificial intelligence to make sense of complex patient histories. The Multimodal Embedding Model for EHR (MEME) transformed tabular health data into 'pseudonotes' that mirror clinical documentation, achieving superi...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·Journalnpj Digital Medicine·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 2, 2025

Black emergency department patients less likely to be treated with opioids – and more likely to misuse them later as a result

A new study found that Black emergency department patients are less likely to be treated with opioids, but when their preferences are not met, they are at a higher risk of misusing opioids three months later. Patients who were satisfied with their pain care had lower rates of opioid misuse.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 1, 2025

UCLA researchers uncover key mechanism of brain repair in vascular dementia, revealing promising therapeutic target

Researchers at UCLA Health have made a groundbreaking discovery about the mechanisms underlying vascular dementia. They found that targeting inflammation in brain blood vessels can promote brain repair and functional recovery in mice. This breakthrough highlights a potential new treatment approach for this understudied form of dementia.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 30, 2025

Removing out-of-pocket fee improves access to 3D mammography

Eliminating the fee increased overall usage by 7.8 percentage points, particularly benefiting underserved populations, including non-English speakers and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. Despite gains, some disparities persisted, highlighting the need for additional strategies to ensure equitable access.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the American College of Radiology·TypeObservational study·DateJun 27, 2025

No evidence to support the practice of having patients fast prior to surgery to prevent post-surgery vomiting

A new analysis of published data finds no association between pre-surgery fasting and post-procedure vomiting, contradicting long-standing recommendations. Research included 801 patients in experimental groups and 990 control group patients, with results showing that aspiration pneumonia is rare.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalSurgery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 24, 2025