USC Leonard Davis Communications

WebMD featured research by Jessica Ho of the USC Leonard Davis School on recent declines in Americans’ life expectancy among people in their 20s and 30s. The opioid epidemic may be a reason for the declines. The story also appeared In NHS Choices and on Fox St. Louis affiliate KTVI-TV (via CNN wires).

ABC News featured research by Jessica Ho of the USC Leonard Davis School on life expectancy across high-income countries declining for the first time in decades. “It’s really striking that we saw so many high-income countries simultaneously experience life expectancy declines in one year,” Ho said. The story also appeared on CNN and in Healio.

Alternative Daily mentioned research by Valter Longo of the USC Leonard Davis School on how eating less frequently helps boost the immune system. “When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of the immune cells that are not needed, especially those that may be damaged,” Longo said. Research on mice has confirmed that periodic fasting helps promote immune cell regeneration.

Time cited research by Valter Longo of the USC Leonard Davis School on the possible health benefits of intermittent fasting. Everyday Health mentioned the possible impact on the progression of multiple sclerosis.

The Philadelphia Inquirer featured research by Changhan David Lee of the USC Leonard Davis School that found mitochondria help transfer vital genetic information within a cell. The discovery opens up treatment possibilities for diseases as another target for therapies. The researchers found that although the nucleus was thought to have complete control of a cell’s genetic material, mitochondria also play a significant role as well.