Isolation and the Brain

From election-related prediction markets to sports betting, gambling is creeping into everyday life. Sanjay and CNN's Coy Wire talk with UCLA's Dr. Timothy Fong about how these apps hook the brain, and what to watch for. Jennifer Lai and Leying Tang produced this episode. Video p ...  Show more

Palliative care and hospice physician Dr. BJ Miller explains how honest conversations about death can help us live -- and die -- on our own terms. Resources mentioned in this episode: BJ Miller's company Mettle Health — support for illness, grief and dying BJ Miller’s book, A Beg ...  Show more

The U.S. is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. And for a lot of people, the feeling is even more pronounced during the holidays. In addition to its emotional impact, chronic loneliness and social isolation have some dramatic health consequences: increased risk of heart diseas ...  Show more

<div>Older people can face serious health effects from being isolated — and yet, being isolated is the only thing that can keep them safe, Senior Producer Maggie Penman reports. Plus, Global Opinions writer Jason Rezaian on how he survived solitary confinement in Iran — and how y ...  Show more

With social distancing in place around the globe, it might seem as though loneliness is the new normal. But there’s a big difference between being lonely and just being alone, says Stephanie Cacioppo, PhD, often cited as the world’s leading expert on the emotion. On this episode ...  Show more