University Of California, Los Angeles

This study tested whether a mindfulness training program could help people with high blood pressure better follow their doctor's advice. Researchers worked with 36 adults who had trouble sticking to their medication, diet, and exercise plans. They compared a six-week mindfulness …

This small safety study tested whether giving rituximab before standard gout treatment could help patients who previously stopped responding to pegloticase. The research involved just 2 adults with severe, tophaceous gout that wasn't controlled by other medications. Doctors wante…

This study tested if adding online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could help people safely reduce their use of benzodiazepine anxiety medications while they were also taking prescription opioids. Taking both drugs together significantly increases the risk of overdose. 42 adul…

This study tested a personalized, two-step therapy program for toddlers with autism to improve their social communication and language skills. It involved 199 children aged 2-3 years in community-based early intervention programs in New York. The program adjusted the type and int…

This study tested if combining two depression treatments works better than one. 40 people with major depression received a brain stimulation treatment called TMS. Half also got an online therapy program to see if the combination improved their symptoms more than TMS alone.

This study tested whether eating two ounces of walnuts daily could improve sperm quality in men with fertility problems. Researchers compared the walnut diet to the common advice of taking an over-the-counter multivitamin. The study involved 80 men from a fertility clinic who had…

This study tested whether gentle, focused ultrasound pulses could improve movement symptoms like tremors and stiffness in people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers used MRI to guide the ultrasound to specific brain areas while measuring brain activity and movement performance.…

This small, early-stage study tested whether it is safe and practical to combine psilocybin (the active compound in 'magic mushrooms') with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat major depression. Sixteen participants received two doses of psilocybin along with 12 therapy se…

This study tested whether sending trained community health workers to visit pregnant women at home could improve health for both mothers and their babies. It followed nearly 1,500 women in rural South Africa for a year after giving birth. The program aimed to help with challenges…

This study tested a decision-making tool designed to help adults with opioid addiction understand their treatment options and stay engaged in care. Over 7,500 participants in California used the tool, and researchers tracked their progress for up to two years, looking at drug use…

This study tested new MRI scanning technology designed specifically for children. Current liver scans require patients to hold their breath, which is very difficult for kids and infants. The research aimed to develop 'free-breathing' MRI methods to make liver disease diagnosis mo…

This study tested a diabetes prevention program specifically designed for college students at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Eighty UCLA students participated in a program focused on lifestyle coaching, healthy eating, and physical activity over nine months. Researchers comp…

This study tested whether using an antibacterial mouthwash daily could help prevent throat gonorrhea infections in men at high risk. Researchers compared a real antibacterial mouthwash to a placebo rinse in 89 men who had previously been diagnosed with throat gonorrhea. Each part…

This study tested whether a smartphone app called GeoPassport, combined with peer mentor support and small rewards, could help men and transgender women leaving jail access important health services. The goal was to see if this approach helped people get HIV prevention medication…

This study tested whether a 14-day course of a dietary supplement called COMP-4 could improve blood vessel function in young, healthy adults. Researchers measured how well an artery in the arm could widen to increase blood flow and checked for changes in blood markers linked to c…

This study tested whether a dietary supplement called Mito-MES could prevent people from getting severely sick after being exposed to a virus like COVID-19. Researchers enrolled 80 healthy adults who had recently been exposed to someone with a respiratory illness. Some participan…

This study tested whether eating walnuts daily could help improve memory and other symptoms in people with Long-COVID. Researchers at UCLA enrolled 31 adults over 40 who had Long-COVID symptoms like brain fog and fatigue for more than 12 weeks. Half the participants added two oun…

This study tested a new sleep education program designed for pairs (dyads) of an Alzheimer's patient and their live-in caregiver who both have sleep problems. The program taught behavioral techniques to improve sleep for both people. Researchers measured if the program improved s…

This study explored how Buddhist teachings could help reduce the social stigma experienced by people living with HIV in Myanmar. Researchers worked with 19 participants to adapt an existing program aimed at lowering stigma and improving quality of life. The goal was to see if cul…

This study tested whether regularly performing kind acts for others could improve the mood and psychological well-being of teenagers. For four weeks, 119 high school students were assigned to either perform kind acts, perform kind acts with an added reflection exercise, or simply…

This small pilot study tested whether a new self-care program is practical and acceptable for middle-aged and older homeless women. The program involved group sessions and private meetings over three months to help participants learn to manage multiple chronic health conditions. …

This study tested whether a special 3-week physical therapy exercise camp could improve leg control and walking ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Twenty-three children aged 5 to 18 attended the camp and did follow-up exercises at home. Researchers measured changes …

This study tested if a 9-week mindfulness app helped teens with anxiety or depression feel better. Researchers wanted to know if having a parent also learn mindfulness alongside their teen provided extra benefit. They compared teens who used the app alone to teens whose parent al…

This study tested whether taking cold water baths helps college athletes recover better from intense training. Seventy-five UCLA volleyball, football, and cross-country athletes tried two weeks of cold plunges after practice and two weeks without. Researchers tracked their sleep,…

This study tested whether adding a behavioral skills training program to standard job support helps people with schizophrenia work longer. All 107 participants were on medication (risperidone or olanzapine) and received help finding a job. Researchers then compared those who got …

This study tested different school training programs to see which ones best help children with autism build social connections. Researchers worked with 60 children in kindergarten through 5th grade, trying four different approaches over six weeks. The goal was to find practical w…

This study tested a remote coaching program to help parents manage challenging behaviors in preschool-aged children with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Researchers first assessed 100 children to understand how common these behaviors are. Then, families of children with signifi…

This study tested two simple tools to help heart doctors better manage their patients' care. Researchers wanted to see if sending doctors monthly performance emails or adding alerts to patient charts would lead to more patients getting recommended heart medications and blood pres…

This study tested whether analyzing the genetic makeup of a thyroid cancer tumor could help doctors decide how much surgery a patient needs. Researchers wanted to see if patients would agree to this genetic testing and, for those with a medium-risk genetic profile, if they would …

This study aimed to understand how inflammation might affect feelings of pleasure and motivation in older adults, particularly those with anxiety. Researchers gave 40 participants aged 60-80 either a substance that causes temporary inflammation or a placebo, then measured their m…

This study investigated how electronic hookahs affect blood vessel function, specifically looking at nicotine's role. Researchers measured blood vessel responses and cell changes in 33 young adult hookah and e-cigarette users. The goal was to understand the health risks of e-hook…

UCLA researchers studied whether writing about personal experiences could affect physical health and well-being in older adults. They enrolled 78 healthy women aged 60 and older to write weekly for six weeks and provide blood samples. The goal was to see if this reflective writin…

This study tested if doctors and nurses could help low-income parents by referring them to a free tax-filing app. Researchers wanted to see if this simple referral made it easier for families to get tax credits they qualify for, and if that money might improve parent and child we…

This study aimed to understand how temporary inflammation might affect the brain's reward system—how we anticipate and enjoy things—in women. Researchers gave 40 healthy, premenopausal women either a low-dose substance to trigger a brief inflammatory response or a placebo, then m…

This study aimed to test two new tools for measuring changes in social and communication skills in young children with autism. It involved 84 children aged 18 months to 5 years who received a play-based therapy called JASPER, delivered either by a clinician or a parent. The main …

This small, early-stage study aimed to understand how the flu virus changes the community of bacteria living in the nose and throat, and how the body's immune system responds. Healthy volunteers received either a nasal spray flu vaccine or a placebo saline spray. Researchers then…

This study aimed to understand how a brain chemical called glutamate differs between male and female cigarette smokers. Researchers used brain scans to measure glutamate levels in 58 adult smokers when they were abstinent and right after smoking. The goal was to see if men and wo…

This study aimed to understand if experiencing weight stigma (negative attitudes about obesity) causes people to have less healthy daily habits. Researchers from UCLA randomly assigned 330 adults with a higher body weight to either experience a weight stigma situation or a neutra…

This UCLA study investigated how stress affects food choices in people experiencing food insecurity. Researchers exposed 453 adult participants to stressful and calm situations one month apart, then measured their intake of snack foods like donuts and chips. The study aimed to un…

This study aimed to understand if inflammation in the small, deep airways of the lungs could be better treated with inhaled steroids made of very small particles. Researchers compared a standard large-particle steroid to a new small-particle version in 57 adults with mild-to-mode…

This study aimed to understand why people with PTSD have a higher risk of heart disease. Researchers measured blood vessel health in 168 adults with a history of trauma, half of whom had PTSD. The goal was to see if specific aspects of PTSD, like fear, are linked to early signs o…

Researchers tested a new skin patch designed to measure uric acid levels in people with gout. The small study aimed to see if the patch was comfortable to wear daily and if it could reliably track levels. Participants wore the patch for a week after a special meal test to see how…

This study tested whether brain wave scans could predict if people with depression would respond to antidepressant medication. Researchers monitored 38 patients with major depression using EEG brain scans while they received either medication or placebo. The goal was to see if ea…

This study aimed to understand how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects the brain's decision-making processes. Researchers compared 30 adults with OCD to 30 healthy adults using brain scans (fMRI) and a mild, non-invasive electrical stimulation technique (tDCS). The goal w…