Can reducing ultra-processed foods help ease depression? Potentially, a small study finds—but making the change can prove challenging: “Food companies work with scientists to find just the right amount of sugar, salt and fat that make you want to eat more and more." https://ucsfh.org/4hanHnb

Dense breasts might do more than obscure cancer; they may help trigger it with DNA-damaging chemicals, a study finds. “We’ve uncovered an explanation for why dense breast tissue may make it easier for new tumors to form—maybe it could help us get ahead of the cancer.” https://ucsfh.org/4yhlcol

Did you know that cardiovascular disease is now the leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in the U.S.? Obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes are among the culprits, UCSF's Dr. Jorge Kizer says. Learn more about steps you can take to protect your heart’s health. https://ucsfh.org/4hq44rh

New national cancer guidelines are challenging a one-size-fits-all approach to treating older adults. “[The] guidelines help explain how to determine the right treatment for the right person based on their unique situation & preferences,” Dr. Louise Walter says. https://ucsfh.org/4y4G0A0

Atrial fibrillation affects ~10.5 million U.S. adults but often goes undiagnosed. A new national trial, OMRON-AF, will test whether an AI-enabled home blood pressure monitor can improve early detection of hypertension in older adults at elevated risk for A-Fib. https://ucsfh.org/4xRnhHa

Smart beds promise better sleep by adjusting temperature, incline and support, but science is still catching up. While tech can’t match our circadian biology, thermoregulating mattresses may help people in environments with hot ambient air, Dr. Katherine Malcolm says. https://ucsfh.org/4rB2QNa

Great news! Dr. Kristine Yaffe has won the National Academy of Medicine’s 2026 Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health for her pioneering research on cognitive aging and dementia prevention. Congratulations, Dr. Yaffe! 🎉 https://ucsfh.org/47jwjSw

Testosterone therapy is having a moment, but much of what the public hears about "T" is incomplete, oversimplified or flat-out wrong. Learn more as Drs. Tami Rowen and Alan Shindel bust the hormones' most persistent myths. https://ucsfh.org/3TT6B4e

✨ 11 experts in our Department of Orthopedic Surgery have received departmental research grants for 2026-2027! The grants will provide resources for UCSF’s pediatric and adult orthopedic faculty to further their research interests & advance patient care. Congratulations! 🎉 https://ucsfh.org/4xHiubv

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Laura Esserman for receiving the 2026 AIM-HI Beacon Award for Women Leaders in Oncology! 🎉 The award recognizes women health & science leaders who have impacted the global effort to improve and accelerate cancer treatment, detection and diagnosis! https://ucsfh.org/3V7SMiJ

By recording the brain, scientists captured the brain’s “tug of war” during risky decisions. The millisecond-by-millisecond process between neighboring brain regions offers a look into the mechanics behind everything from risk-taking to anxiety, addiction and gambling. https://ucsfh.org/4Axuz5N

Is arriving early the ultimate jet lag travel hack? The 49ers’ 27-7 win against the Rams in Melbourne suggests it could be. Dr. Kin Yuen explains that "the brain is very discombobulated [after traveling on a long-haul flight]." https://ucsfh.org/4yDkzpF

🎉Congratulations to Jeffrey Bluestone, Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, Dr. Julie Louise Gerberding and Dr. Eric Goosby for receiving the 2026 UCSF Medal!🏅The award honors recipients for their groundbreaking contributions to advancing science, patient care and public health. https://ucsfh.org/4Ae0o3g

The 2026–27 COVID vaccine is here, and it's updated to protect against the “No. 1 strain right now circulating,” UCSF's Dr. Peter Chin-Hong says. People at high risk of severe infection should get vaccinated soon, he says. https://ucsfh.org/46Zu9Y6

UCSF researchers have cracked a cancer target once thought “undruggable." Daraxonrasib recently received FDA approval after doubling median life expectancy for patients with advanced #PancreaticCancer in clinical trials, ushering in hope for a new generation of treatments. https://ucsfh.org/4r5o6dH

Long Covid has impacted millions, and new clues could explain the disease and pave the way for targeted treatments. The first step is collecting the pieces, UCSF's Dr. Tim Henrich says. “We have the puzzle pieces basically strewn about the table. I think they’re all there.” https://ucsfh.org/4iMQTSk

For people w/ Parkinson’s, unsteady walking can be one of the hardest symptoms to treat. Now a brain stimulation system adapts w/ each step, improving stability & reducing falls. “This is an important step toward a new generation of brain therapies,” Dr. Doris Wang says. https://ucsfh.org/3UBGten

By 2024, nearly all men with low-risk prostate cancer were opting for "active surveillance," a study of 73,000 veterans finds. “Many experts are recommending that we not even call these ‘cancers,’” UCSF's @dr-coops.bsky.social says of the slow-growing types. https://ucsfh.org/46bhIbh

We’re proud to lead a $9 million effort to crack one of #myocarditis’ biggest mysteries: Why immune cells attack the heart. The long-term goal is "turning off the T cells attacking the heart while leaving the rest of the immune system intact," Dr. Josiah Gerdts explains. https://ucsfh.org/4qKxd3o

Earlier menopause, especially surgical menopause, is linked to higher Alzheimer’s risk—but hormone therapy may lower it, researchers find. “We detected a lasting trace of menopause on women’s brains even decades later," UCSF's Dr. Riley Bove says. https://ucsfh.org/3SIX3rW