Consumers spend between $40 and $1,400 a year on sunscreen, a UCSF study finds, but shelling out more doesn't mean better protection, dermatologist Dr. Maria Wei says: “Less expensive sunscreen, with the same active ingredients and same SPF, is as photoprotective." https://ucsfh.org/3PalY5w

Exercise protects the brain, and now UCSF researchers may have discovered how: An exercise-induced protein appears to strengthen the blood-brain barrier, slowing decline. “We’re uncovering biology that Alzheimer’s research has largely overlooked,” Saul Villeda says. https://ucsfh.org/4aAJ9OQ

When it comes to associative learning, new research reveals that “timing is everything.” A @natneuro.nature.com study finds time between experiences plays a bigger role in learning than simple repetition. https://ucsfh.org/46iORCx

Online services are changing health care, but they're also leaving some patients behind, a UCSF survey finds. “Not everyone can access all these new digital health tools we’re rolling out,” Dr. Elaine Khoong says. https://ucsfh.org/3OJnJ9G

A tuberculosis outbreak caused numerous cases of latent TB, a dormant form of the infection. While latent TB is symptom-free & non-contagious, it can “wake up” into a possibly deadly disease, making screening & preventive treatment critical, Dr. Priya Shete explains. https://ucsfh.org/4kGQHmy

👏 Happy #ThankAResidentDay to all the exceptional residents and fellows who care for our patients every day of the year!

In a UCSF first, our surgeons performed a heart transplant on a patient with a total artificial heart. "We’ve taken one patient for the full arc," Dr. Amy Fiedler tells @sfexaminer.bsky.social. The patient is doing great & able to care for his toddler daughter again! https://ucsfh.org/3MGxswY

Despite making up 25% of the global population, South Asians represent 60% of heart disease patients. UCSF's MASALA study is exploring why. The goal? To "have better care and change people’s health trajectories,” Dr. Alka Kanaya says. https://ucsfh.org/4aKPI0i

Efforts to limit processed foods must also address the food environment, UCSF’s Laura Schmidt tells @scifri.bsky.social: "You can tell people to not eat ultra-processed foods, but when they’re 70% of what’s in your grocery store, it’s really hard to avoid," she says. https://ucsfh.org/3N2pzC7

Dr. Michelle Albert was featured on KTVU discussing heart disease prevention & awareness. Prevention is a powerful tool. "Stay active, eat well, sleep well and know your numbers when it comes to blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar." @ucsfhealth.bsky.social www.ktvu.com/news/heart-d...

Telehealth appointment coming up? Virtual healthcare is flexible and convenient, and a few easy steps beforehand can help you make the most of your appointment. A Zoom test run in a quiet, private space can help you prepare, UCSF’s Patty Nason suggests. https://ucsfh.org/4kAY0fC

A tuberculosis outbreak at a local high school caused both active cases & latent infections, which are asymptomatic but can be deadly and require treatment, Dr. Priya Shete says: “In most cases, once you finish with that, the risk of developing active TB is negligible.” https://ucsfh.org/4rFrf2Y

Congratulations to our patient, Martell, and our cardiac surgery team! Martell is the first UCSF patient to move to a heart transplant from a Total Artificial Heart, a device that temporarily supports heart function, while patients with heart failure wait for a transplant.

Some “killer” T cells associated with Epstein- Barr virus may trigger the damaging immune response in MS, a study finds. That “connects a lot of different dots and gives us a new window on how EBV is likely contributing to this disease,” senior author Dr. Joe Sabatino says. https://ucsfh.org/4qqdQuN

Generative AI is changing everything from vacation planning to meeting notes. In his new book "A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare & What That Means for Our Future," UCSF’s @bobwachter.bsky.social weighs in on the possibilities and pitfalls of AI in medicine. https://ucsfh.org/3ZlGL8o

If done correctly, a home exercise program can be effective in reducing meniscus pain, Dr. Carlin Senter tells @drniravpandya.bsky.social @brianfeeleymd.bsky.social @6to8weekspodcast.bsky.social. “It’s impactful & empowering for patients to think, OK, this is in my hands." https://ucsfh.org/3ZYrFWn

Exciting news! UCSF scientists Daniele Canzio and Balyn Zaro have won the 2026 Bowes Biomedical Investigator Award! 🎉 Their breakthrough discoveries open new pathways to preventing and treating conditions like autism, Alzheimer's disease and cancer. https://ucsfh.org/45W4uQc

Collaborative care programs for people with dementia are more beneficial than a costly Alzheimer’s drug, a study finds. Combining collaborative care and medication may be the best way to meet patients' needs, UCSF’s Katherine Possin says. https://ucsfh.org/46lr0C0

Long associated with reproductive health, estrogen also has a powerful impact on skin, kidneys, bones and more, UCSF researchers find. "We now live about three decades beyond menopause," UCSF's Holly Ingraham says. "We need to truly understand how the hormones affect us." https://ucsfh.org/4cpgspc

Kidney transplant patients currently take daily pills to prevent rejection, but they could do well with a monthly infusion, a UCSF study finds. The new treatment also may reduce side effects and increase the lifespan of the donor organ. https://ucsfh.org/3M3ljSy

Six months after his stage IV terminal cancer diagnosis, UCSF nurse practitioner Jonathan Pascual completed the Ironman World Championship. "Many believe that terminal cancer is a death sentence, but it’s not," he says. "It’s an invitation to live—to do whatever you want." https://ucsfh.org/4rupCVR

Do patients with a non-invasive type of #BreastCancer need surgery to prevent progression—or is it better to hold off & carefully monitor their condition? A @ucsfcancer.bsky.social#BreastCancerclinical trial focuses on determining the best approach for patients with #DCIS. https://ucsfh.org/4ryI13X

Nearly 1/3 of medical residents report burnout, according to @ama-assn.org. To help, Drs. Larissa Thomas and Kendra Moore created one of the country’s first formal peer support programs. Follow Dr. Thomas for a day as she helps new physicians support each other ➡️ https://ucsfh.org/4qASZ8l

Cervical cancer screening guidelines include a new option that could be available to patients soon: self-collected HPV tests. "The promise of self-collection testing is to increase screening access," UCSF's Dr. George Sawaya says. https://ucsfh.org/4td7scO

We’re proud to announce that Dr. Johannes Kratz will be the inaugural chief of UCSF’s Division of Thoracic Surgery, one of the leading academic robotic thoracic surgery programs in the western United States! Congratulations, Dr. Kratz! https://ucsfh.org/3ZI7X14

Researchers have designed an adaptable framework to gather data on anti-amyloid treatments for #Alzheimers disease. The data will set a standard for future trials and treatment, UCSF’s Renaud La Joie says. https://ucsfh.org/3O9SkNf

A protein that acts as a "garbage collector" helps some brain cells stay resilient even in advanced Alzheimer’s, a study finds. Researchers hope the discovery can help pave the way for new dementia therapies, UCSF’s Martin Kampmann says. https://ucsfh.org/4k9PR1u

A new UCSF study sheds light on cell division. As cells split, they grow a web of fibers known as the spindle, which pulls chromosomes neatly apart. “Our study gives us a glimpse into why this molecular machine is so dependable,” senior author Sophie Dumont says. https://ucsfh.org/4k7LPGV

Assessing both genetics & heart disease risk factors may help clinicians predict a patient's likelihood of developing dementia, a study finds. And by focusing on controllable factors, patients can be proactive, rather than just waiting for symptoms, Dr. Kristine Yaffe says. https://ucsfh.org/3M5cuYh

Eating too quickly can contribute to bloating, acid reflux & overeating, Dr. Justin Field says. Selecting foods that take more time to chew, like legumes & nuts, can help: “The foods that are harder to eat are also the foods that tend to be better for us & more nutritious.” https://ucsfh.org/46203De

The cause of AI-associated psychosis, when delusions emerge with chatbot use, remains murky, but people without prior psychotic illness can experience it. According to Dr. Karthik Sarma, potential causes include predisposition, sleep deprivation and some medications. https://ucsfh.org/3LP10I7

In 2020, UCSF researchers built one of the world’s premier clinical trial programs for long COVID. Known as LIINC, it’s paving the way for long-term, impactful research and could change our understanding of long COVID forever, they say. https://ucsfh.org/4jZH3v0

~40% of hospitalized adults receive post-acute care, but the process often is rushed & limited by insurance, a study finds. Hospital-based clinicians can help by advocating for patients, especially those with insurance restrictions, Dr. James Deardorff says. https://ucsfh.org/49vS0AW

At-home STD tests are becoming available, as well as several newly approved drugs. “Sexual health can be stigmatized & people can be hesitant about testing,” Dr. Ina Park says. “Now we have a lot of options for patients who may be wary of going into a provider’s office.” https://ucsfh.org/4b3sZy9

Therapy targeting a specific cellular marker could help treat bladder cancer, a study finds. “We think this could finally move the needle for patients with bladder cancer, who typically have very few options for treatment,” UCSF's Dr. Franklin Huang says. https://ucsfh.org/4qvTH7q

Altering gene expression in cells responsible for repairing tissue reduced liver fat and improved both metabolism & glucose tolerance in older mice. This opens up new opportunities to understand & potentially reverse aging-related diseases, UCSF’s Janine Sengstack says. https://ucsfh.org/4sJaLIG

Personalized breast cancer screening can lower patients' risk of advanced cancers, a groundbreaking study finds. “These findings should transform clinical guidelines for breast cancer screening and alter clinical practice,” @ucsfcancer.bsky.social's Dr. Laura Esserman says. https://ucsfh.org/49s3oxL

The so-called "super flu," a longer-lasting, highly transmissible strain of influenza, is spreading in CA. To help protect against more severe illness, it's a good idea to get your flu shot if you haven't already, UCSF's Dr. Monica Gandhi tells @nbcbayarea.com. https://ucsfh.org/3YJQc0X

UCSF is honoring @uofcalifornia.bsky.social President Emeritus Dr. Michael V. Drake with a public plaza! Along 3rd Street on our Mission Bay campus, the Michael V. Drake Plaza is a warm and welcoming outdoor gathering space for both patients and staff. https://ucsfh.org/4aSayfL

When an NFL player suffers an Achilles injury, recovery time depends on early rehab, age, tissue quality and what position the athlete plays, @drniravpandya.bsky.social says in this discussion of 49ers injuries with @mattmaiocco.bsky.social. https://ucsfh.org/4jJ9RaY

Self-administered injectable contraception has been available in the U.S. for 2+ decades, but only about 1/4 of reproductive health experts prescribe it, a study finds. “It’s safe, effective and puts the control in patients’ own hands,” UCSF's Dr. Jennifer Karlin says. https://ucsfh.org/4qk1Jjx

Cancer immunotherapies have revolutionized treatment by using a patient’s own T-cells to target tumors. But in rare cases they can cause fatal cardiac inflammation. New UCSF research from Dr. Amir Munir helps explain why—and could lead to improved therapies. https://ucsfh.org/4qFamoD

Diagnosing deadly lung infections like pneumonia in critically ill patients can be difficult, but AI and genetic data can help, UCSF clinicians found. The new method could "lead to faster diagnosis and curtail the unnecessary use of antibiotics," Dr. Chaz Langelier says. https://ucsfh.org/3LyJPuj

Lee's multiple myeloma diagnosis came with a prognosis of just a few years, but 14 years on, he’s still hiking and cycling. “My survival relates directly to NIH research & funding,” he says. “If it hadn’t been for that, I wouldn’t be here.” https://ucsfh.org/3YQWFad

Older people, those who are immunocompromised or have allergies and asthma are at heightened risk for thirdhand smoke, a study from UCSF, @sandiegostate.bsky.social & @berkeleylab.lbl.gov finds. New changes to CA real estate disclosures could help address the issue. https://ucsfh.org/4b4Rzi1

A UCSF milestone: We had an all-woman team of surgeons & other physicians taking care of our liver transplant patients on Christmas! In 1988 Dr. Nancy Ascher, the first woman to perform a liver transplant, founded our Liver Transplant Program, which has given ~4,000 people a second chance at life.

UCSF and @broadinstitute.org researchers have linked common gene variants to aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve. Risk is partly due to the same genes that cause differences in how heart valves work in healthy people, Dr. James Pirruccello explains. https://ucsfh.org/4qmfApa

When it comes to ACL injuries, "one thing that's important is that initial exam is really, really accurate," @brianfeeleymd.bsky.social says on the @6to8weekspodcast.bsky.social with @drniravpandya.bsky.social. They talk all things ACL, including diagnoses, MRIs & surgery. https://ucsfh.org/4qyUR1K

Welcome to the world, June! She was the first baby born at our hospital in 2026, arriving at 5:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and measuring 20.5 inches. Congratulations to proud parents, Lila and James, on their healthy New Year’s baby! 🥳

🎆 Happy New Year from everyone at our hospitals! 🥂