Does cannabis use affect people’s memory? Can a flu virus awaken dormant cancer cells and re-trigger disease? Could this product lining gas station shelves be dangerous?
Those are just a few questions addressed by University of Colorado Anschutz scientists in 2025, not even a fraction of a drop in the campus’s impact bucket.
On a mission to improve health, find cures and educate the public about today's critical medical issues, the researchers and providers at CU Anschutz work to solve the toughest puzzles and answer the most important questions shaping the healthcare landscape every day. Here’s just a snapshot.
Largest Study Ever Done on Cannabis and Brain Function Finds Impact on Working Memory
CU Anschutz researchers studied over 1,000 adults ages 22 to 36 who used cannabis at different amounts throughout their lives, evaluating the drug’s effects on cognitive function. Individuals’ working memories – the ability to retain and use information to perform tasks – was the most affected.
4:3 Intermittent Fasting Outperforms Daily Calorie Restriction in Weight-Loss Study
For the first time, researchers found intermittent fasting resulted in greater weight loss compared to traditional daily caloric restriction. IMF participants in the one-year clinical trial also stuck to their plans better, had lower drop-out rates and more often reached a 5% weight-loss benchmark – the point at which vital health markers generally begin to improve.
Can NAD+ Supplements Fend Off Aging, Cancer and More?
Does NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) live up to its miracle molecule status given by celebrities, who maintain that it does everything from combating aging to warding off cancer? While the molecule itself is vital to wellness and longevity, a top expert says, the validity of the supplement claims are much less clear.
-1.png?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025-07_Respiratory%20Viruses%20&%20Cancer%20Cells%20(6)-1.png)
Respiratory Viruses Can Wake Up Breast Cancer Cells in Lungs
A multisite study found evidence in animal models that common respiratory viruses can awaken dormant breast cancer cells that had spread to the lungs, potentially giving rise to new tumors. The study’s authors say the findings suggest survivors should take precautions against respiratory disease infections.
-1.png?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025-08_Kratom%20Story%20(3)-1.png)
What Is 7-OH, and Why Is It Being Targeted in Kratom Products?
A concentrated version of the 7-OH compound found in the kratom leaf made headlines this year, playing a contributing role in poisonings and deaths across the country and prompting regulatory responses. The compound’s potency – a similar jump from a cup of tea to an energy drink – and lack of clear labeling poses risks, says a CU Anschutz researcher who has studied kratom for decades.
Solving the Puzzle of Autoimmune Neurological Diseases
Amanda Piquet, MD, is known for treating singer Céline Dion for stiff person syndome – and she’s advancing how we care for all people suffering from life-altering neuroinflammatory diseases. In the clinic and through clinical trials, she’s unraveling the mysteries surrounding autoimmune disorders that affect the brain and spinal cord.
See how CU Anschutz is turning dreams into life-changing discoveries.
Promising New Research Shows Potential to Cure Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
A team of CU Anschutz dental, pharmaceutical and medical researchers collaborated to create a nanogel that targets urinary tract infections (UTIs). The nanogel was found to directly and effectively target a UTI in lab models, eliminating 90% of bacteria from the bladder.
Historic $40 Million Gift to CU Anschutz Department of Ophthalmology Will Fuel Research and New Therapies
A historic $40 million gift to the CU Anschutz Department of Ophthalmology is poised to jumpstart potential cures for eye diseases like macular degeneration and glaucoma. The gift will help support basic science and advanced technologies like AI to transform vision care and aim to try save and restore sight.
Does Honey Offer Health Benefits?
These are sweet times for honey. Artisan-crafted batches of the golden goodness fill the shelves of groceries and gift stores. Does honey made by bees in the neighborhood boost our defenses to localized allergens? Are there benefits to raw honey versus mass-produced varieties? What about honey as a topical treatment on our skin? An expert from flower-rich rural Kansas weighs in on all the buzz.
See related stories in our Fad or Fact? series.
Texas Records First U.S. Measles Death in 10 Years – Epidemiologist Explains How to Protect Against This Preventable Disease
The first pediatric deaths from measles in 10 years brought renewed focus to a disease that was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. A CU Anschutz epidemiologist offers his insights into the disease’s history and how vaccination is a vital tool in preventing illness and death.
