Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors age faster than their peers who did not have cancer, according to a new study, which also describes how accelerated aging occurs both at the cellular level and in brain function, such as memory, attention, and ability to process information.

Researchers have developed a new computational approach that uncovers possible drugs for specific cellular targets for treating glioblastoma, a lethal brain tumor.  This approach enabled them to predict more effective treatment combinations to fight the disease on an individualized basis.

U.S. adolescents spend more than one hour per day on smartphones during school hours, with social media accounting for the largest share of use, according to research published Jan. 5, 2026, in JAMA. The findings have relevance for educators, parents and policymakers. 

A new study co-led by the Southern California Superfund Research and Training Program for PFAS Assessment, Remediation and Prevention (ShARP) Center and the University of Hawai‘i has linked certain common “forever chemicals” to a higher risk of liver disease in adolescents. These synthetic compounds, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), may as much as triple the chances that adolescents develop a liver condition called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) — formerly known as fatty liver disease.  The research examined 284 Southern California adolescents and young adults from two USC longitudinal studies. The participants were already at higher metabolic risk because their parents had type 2 diabetes or were overweight. PFAS levels were measured through blood tests, and liver fat was assessed using MRI. Higher blood levels of two common PFAS — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) — were linked to a greater likelihood of MASLD. Adolescents with twice as much PFOA in their blood were nearly three times more likely to have MASLD. The risk was even higher for those with a genetic variant (PNPLA3 GG) known to influence liver fat. In young adults, smoking further amplified PFAS-related liver impacts.