UC Davis Health
Health Magazine
Spring/Summer 2026
Laboratory tool
In brief

Body of knowledge

A summary of recent findings in clinical, translational and basic-science research at UC Davis.

  • Wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy may be linked to increased likelihood of autism

    New research suggests that exposure to intense wildfire smoke during pregnancy may be associated with increased likelihood of autism in children. The study, by researchers at UC Davis Health and UCLA, was published in the journal Environment International and is the largest to date examining how wildfire-specific air pollution may impact early neurodevelopment. Overall, average wildfire smoke levels during pregnancy showed only weak associations with autism diagnosis. But during high‑intensity smoke events, associations grew stronger. In regions with generally cleaner air, such as rural areas, it was most pronounced.

  • High risk of metastatic recurrence among young cancer patients

    A first-of-its-kind study of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with seven common cancers reveals that nearly one in ten patients diagnosed with non-metastatic disease later develop metastatic recurrence — a condition associated with significantly worse survival outcomes. For AYAs initially diagnosed with non-metastatic disease, metastatic recurrence was highest for those with sarcoma, colorectal cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer. UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center scientists led the research, published in JAMA Oncology, and highlighted the need to identify and address survivorship needs.

  • Low choline levels in the brain associated with anxiety disorders

    People with anxiety disorders have lower levels of choline in their brains, according to research from UC Davis Health. The study, published in the Nature journal Molecular Psychiatry, analyzed data from 25 studies. The researchers compared the levels of neurometabolites, chemicals produced during brain metabolism, in 370 people with anxiety disorders to 342 people without anxiety. They found the level of choline, an essential nutrient, was about 8% lower in those with anxiety disorders. The evidence for low choline was especially consistent in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that helps control thinking, emotions and behavior.

  • Shunt surgery leads to fewer falls in older adults with hydrocephalus

    A new clinical study has shown that shunting, the diversion of the extra fluid buildup in the brain, restores mobility and results in walking improvements in older adults with a type of hydrocephalus. Surgical implantation of a shunt is the only effective treatment to manage cerebrospinal fluid drainage. The findings, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, help resolve decades of debate on whether shunts help patients with this condition. UC Davis Health is one of the research sites for the trial, led by Johns Hopkins University.

  • Newly recognized pathway could protect diabetics from hypoglycemia

    A new study by UC Davis shows how cells work together to avoid a sudden drop in blood sugar. Understanding these feedback loops could improve the lives of people with diabetes and help them avoid dangerous hypoglycemia. The new discovery, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides important new insights into how the human pancreas functions that can, in turn, inform attempts to re-create normal pancreatic function using technology. It also helps to solve a longstanding medical mystery.