Good news for people newly diagnosed with MOGAD: Study finds low relapse risk
People newly diagnosed with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, or MOGAD, generally had a low risk of relapse and lasting disability, according to a Kaiser Permanente study. Researchers from Kaiser Permanente in Southern California followed 69 children and adults diagnosed ...
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Ultraprocessed foods linked to body fat gain in children
Children who ate more ultraprocessed foods showed stronger activity in a part of the brain involved in reward, and that brain response was linked to greater gains in body fat over the following year, ...
No increased stroke risk found after COVID-19 and flu vaccinations
A large multisite study found that bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, flu vaccination, and same-day administration of both vaccines were not associated with an increased risk of first-ever ischemic ...
RSV vaccine protects older adults for at least 3 seasons
An RSV vaccine continued to protect adults aged 60 and older against RSV-related hospitalization and emergency department visits for at least 3 seasons after vaccination, according to a new study by ...
Staying active during pregnancy helps keep postpartum weight off
February 3, 2026For years, researchers have known that many people struggle to lose the weight they gain during pregnancy. Up to 1 in 4 individuals retain at least 10 pounds 1 to 2 years after giving birth, and this lingering weight can raise their long‑term risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic problems. Despite the importance of ...Read more...Wildfire smoke studies reveal differing health risks
February 3, 2026Wildfire smoke has increasingly been recognized as a serious public health threat. Now, 2 new Kaiser Permanente studies in Southern California have examined how health risks for both young and old people might be associated with exposure. One study showed that long-term exposure increased the risk of death among older adults, while another found that prenatal ...Read more...Researcher Dr. Hui Zhou’s joyful New Year’s Day walk
January 13, 2026On a rainy New Year’s morning in Pasadena, Dr. Hui Zhou, a research scientist with the Department of Research & Evaluation, walked alongside Kaiser Permanente’s float, “A Better Idea for Health Care,” in the Rose Parade. It was a moment of pride and joy. Dr. Zhou wasn’t just proud to represent Kaiser Permanente. … Her daughter, ...Read more...More than just a pretty space: What research tells us about parks
December 8, 2025For many people, public parks are just a beautiful green space they drive by on their way to work. However, research has shown that parks play a crucial role in people’s physical activity, and the community’s health. By studying parks, researchers aim to understand how these public spaces enhance community health, encourage active lifestyles, and assess ...Read more...Five questions for Dr. Mingsum Lee
December 5, 2025Mingsum Lee, MD, PhD, has been named as the 2025 Southern California Permanente Medical Group Physician Researcher of the Year. Commenting about her selection for the award, one nominator said Dr. Lee “is a true quadruple threat as an exceptional clinician, educator, administrator, and prolific researcher, but also has a humility and generosity which defines ...Read more...Los Angeles wildfires increased virtual medical visits
November 26, 2025In January 2025, when wildfires swept from the foothills above Los Angeles into the densely populated urban areas below, evacuations ensued and a thick layer of smoke spread across the region. Air quality plummeted. The number of virtual visits soared and in-person visits also increased. Research led by Kaiser Permanente Southern California and the University of ...Read more...Predicting heart issues among breast cancer survivors
November 26, 2025Researchers have developed a new risk calculation model to help predict the risks of heart problems for breast cancer survivors. Their research was published in JAMA Oncology in October 2025. “There is limited information about how breast cancer treatments can affect the development of cardiovascular disease,” said study co-senior author Reina Haque, PhD, MPH, a cancer ...Read more...Diabetes medications vary in ability to reduce heart attacks and strokes
October 28, 2025A new study led by Kaiser Permanente researchers compared how well 4 different types of glucose-lowering medications reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke for patients with type 2 diabetes, providing important new information for these patients and their physicians. The study, published in JAMA Network Open in October, 2025, analyzed data collected on nearly ...Read more...Insomnia increases depression risk for breast cancer survivors
October 24, 2025Breast cancer survivors face a high risk of major depressive disorder, also known as clinical depression, particularly if they also have insomnia, according to findings from a new study of Kaiser Permanente members. “We determined that the risk of major depression disorder was markedly higher in breast cancer survivors than in a matched group of women ...Read more...Some UTIs may be caused by contaminated meat
October 24, 2025Nearly 1 in 5 urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Southern California could be due to E. coli strains transmitted through contaminated meat, according to a new study of Kaiser Permanente Southern California members. The research also found that those living in low-income neighborhoods were at increased risk of these infections. The study was published in mBio ...Read more...