Health Sciences

An elderly person doing a crossword puzzle.

From 5 to 95: The impact of life experiences on brain health

Structural and social determinants of health (SSDoH) are environmental conditions in which individuals are born, live, and learn that affect health, and evidence suggests that SSDoH can help to explain similar outcomes in Alzheimer’s disease.

From Penn Memory Center ・ June 29, 2022

African American person sitting outside cooling their head with a towel.

Climate change’s impact on cardiovascular mortality

Two new studies from Penn LDI indicate the increasing number of extreme heat waves baking large swaths of the country pose new levels of potentially deadly health threats, particularly for older adults and minority populations in low-income communities.

Hoag Levins ・ June 29, 2022

A woman with purple hair sits at a piano and stares off into the distance.

Identities in harmony: How Beth Burton integrates the personal with the professional

The doctoral candidate in the Perelman School of Medicine is a scientist studying the genetic causes of Alzheimer’s. She’s also a musician, a queer woman, and a voice for those with genetic disorders.

Luis Melecio-Zambrano ・ June 29, 2022

A transgender patient wearing a mask and hospital gown on a hospital bed.

Helping transgender patients navigate health care

Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement and Penn’s Program for LGBTQ Health works to address the specific health care needs of gender diverse patients.

Hannah Messinger ・ June 27, 2022

A large grassy area covered in a display of t-shirts erected with names of people killed by gun violence around a sign that reads MEMORIAL TO PHILADELPHIANS MURDERED BY ILLEGAL GUNS.

Managing mental health amid gun violence

In 2021, Philadelphia saw a record number of 486 homicides by shooting as well 1,846 non-fatal shootings. According to clinical psychologist Leah Blain, exposure to trauma, including to gun violence, increases the risk of negative health outcomes.

From Penn Medicine News ・ June 24, 2022

An adult wearing a mask squatting next to a child wearing a mask at the end of a slide on an outdoor playground.

Children younger than 5 eligible for COVID-19 vaccines

In a Q&A, Lori Handy of Penn Medicine and CHOP discusses what it means now that this final group can get protection, plus offers recommendations for families with concerns about doing so.

Michele W. Berger ・ June 23, 2022

Stress protein in fibroblasts may be a good target for future cancer drugs

A Penn study finds the ATF4 protein is overactive in many types of tumor cells and tumor-supporting fibroblasts to promote tumor survival, and may be a good target for future cancer treatments.

Caren Begun ・ June 22, 2022

Illustration of different cell types that eventually give rise to sperm shows that blocking an early stage of cell development can prevent the formation of sperm

A newly identified stem cell regulator enables lifelong sperm production

Research led by Jeremy Wang of the School of Veterinary Medicine has discovered that the enzyme DOT1L, a stem cell renewal factor, is essential for mice to produce sperm throughout their adult lives.

Katherine Unger Baillie ・ June 22, 2022

Lots of gold blobs, some larger and closer to the front of the image, some smaller and farther away, on a pinkish background.

University of Pennsylvania’s first NFT commemorates mRNA research

Proceeds from the July auction of the non-fungible token—a digital asset—will benefit ongoing research at Penn.

Penn Medicine , Brandon Lausch, Peter Winicov ・ June 21, 2022

Text messaging shows promise in reaching unvaccinated patients

A Penn study finds that while automated texting did not get more patients to get their vaccinations against COVID-19, it reached roughly the same amount as manned phone calls.

From Penn Medicine News ・ June 17, 2022