Can we prevent Alzheimer’s disease within a decade?
USC researchers are on the cusp of a revolution in Alzheimer’s prevention. In the near future, their discoveries promise to make the devastating disease a thing of the past.
(Illustration/Bratislav Milenkovic)
Top Headlines
Nadine Strossen’s conversation with Dean Franita Tolson of the USC Gould School of Law was part of the USC Open Dialogue Project.
The recognitions, which are among USC’s highest faculty honors, reward scholarly success. Honorees are nominated by their faculty colleagues.
USC researchers may have discovered a way to break through the blood-brain barrier and make immune checkpoint inhibitors effective for patients with recurrent, high-grade astrocytoma.
The law professor and legal analyst visited USC’s University Park Campus to discuss his latest book, Rage and the Republic.
Toward Healthier Lives
In classrooms, clinics and labs, Trojans are sharing their knowledge, providing care and making discoveries that are changing the health landscape.
Expertise in Every Discipline
USC’s health expertise extends from the university’s medical school to fields including dentistry, pharmacy, physical and occupational therapy, aging and social work. And in every corner of the university, experts in myriad fields are helping their health colleagues make advances that were previously unimaginable.
USC launches first community pharmacy in South Los Angeles with ribbon-cutting ceremony
The new pharmacy and wellness center aims to alleviate a “pharmacy desert” and expand community access to essential medications and health care services.
Who do you think you are? Learn what DNA tests reveal — and what they don’t
Consumer DNA testing is reshaping notions of family, identity and risk. But what it reveals — and what it doesn’t — may surprise you. USC experts explain.
To reduce Alzheimer’s risk, focus on overall health
Researchers across USC are studying how lifestyle and environment influence dementia risk and resilience. They’re finding that what’s good for the body is also good for the brain.
Trojan honored for promising work in hearing research
The Association for Research in Otolaryngology recognizes Ksenia Gnedeva for her work in understanding the development and regeneration of the inner ear’s sensory hearing cells.
Healthy Hearts, Healthy Minds
Practical guidance for cardiovascular health, plus USC breakthroughs advancing care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and brain cancer. From everyday steps that protect your heart to research that could change what’s possible for the brain, these stories show how USC is advancing health.
How Heart Failure Care Is Changing, and What Patients Should Know
USC cardiologists explain why clinicians are moving away from the label “congestive heart failure” and focusing on earlier-stage care. Treatment is tailored by stage, with prevention and lifestyle changes emphasized early and advanced options like LVADs and heart transplant available for severe disease.
Can You Turn Heart Health Around? What Lifestyle Changes Really Help
A USC cardiology expert points to the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 as a practical roadmap for improving cardiovascular health (nutrition, activity, tobacco cessation, sleep, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure). The guidance emphasizes that these evidence-based changes can meaningfully reduce long-term heart disease risk.
Laser Heat Therapy May Help Immunotherapy Work Better in Aggressive Brain Cancer
Researchers reported results suggesting that laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) may help the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab work more effectively against high-grade astrocytoma. Reporting on the study describes a phase 2 trial of 45 patients with recurrent grade 4 astrocytoma, with notably higher survival for the LITT-plus-pembrolizumab approach compared with a surgery-plus-pembrolizumab comparison group.
New Clues in Blood Flow and Oxygen Use Linked to Alzheimer’s Risk
USC researchers found that noninvasive measures of brain blood flow and oxygenation were associated with Alzheimer’s-related brain changes in older adults, including amyloid buildup and smaller hippocampal volume. The study suggests brain vascular health may provide earlier signals of risk before major symptoms appear.
A New USC Trial Aims to Replace Dopamine-Producing Cells in Parkinson’s
Keck Medicine of USC is running an early-phase clinical trial studying the safety and effectiveness of implanting specialized stem cells into the brain to replace damaged cells and produce dopamine. The therapy uses induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), with the goal of restoring dopamine levels and improving motor function.
Understanding Arrhythmias, From Atrial Fibrillation to High-Risk Rhythms
A heart arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat, and not all rhythm changes are dangerous. Keck Medicine experts explain the most common types, what symptoms to watch for, and when an evaluation is important, especially for conditions like atrial fibrillation or high-risk rhythms in people with heart disease.
The Festival of Books Returns to USC
The L.A. Times Festival of Books returns to USC’s University Park Campus on April 18–19 for a two-day literary celebration featuring author talks, book signings, activities and more. Open to the public, it’s a weekend for readers of all ages to discover new books and ideas across the USC campus.
Spotlight: USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
As a global leader in occupational science and occupational therapy, the USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy prepares clinicians, scholars and innovators to enhance health, participation and quality of life across the lifespan. Home to top-ranked degree programs and expert faculty who integrate rigorous scholarship with real-world practice, the division leverages the health-promoting power of everyday occupations to drive translational impact in communities, clinical settings and global health.
Turning Education Into Opportunity, Action and Impact
The “We Are Here” series showcases the Big Ten Academic Alliance, with USC among its member universities, featuring students and alumni who share how learning becomes action, launching careers, creating jobs, saving lives, advancing innovation and serving neighborhoods nationwide.
Around the University
Dance and Diplomacy: A Conversation with Yuanyuan Wang
Artist-in-residence Yuanyuan Wang joins USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance Dean Julia Ritter and Jennifer Bellah Maguire for a conversation at the Kaufman Dance Studio exploring the intersection of dance and diplomacy and how the arts can build bridges across cultures. The event is presented in partnership with the USC Center on Public Diplomacy and the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance.
Wednesday, April 1
10:30 a.m. to noon
In Bloom: Earth Month Showcase
Celebrate Earth Month at the USC Fisher Museum of Art with In Bloom, a showcase featuring work by USC Arts and Climate Collective awardees, student performances and plant-based food. The event brings together art, community and climate-minded creativity.
Wednesday, April 1
1–4 p.m.
