Isolation and the Brain

CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam has been covering the weather for more than 20 years, and sees the increasing rate of extreme weather events as our new reality. He shares some of his stories and tips for staying safe in dangerous conditions with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. This episode was ...  Show more

The diabetes drugs that transformed weight loss may be key to treating addiction, too. Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with Dr. Dhruv Khullar about how GLP-1s affect the brain, its reward system, and maybe even addiction. This episode was produced by Jennifer Lai and Sofia Sanchez. Video ...  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

Even if quarantining alone, distractions like Zoom calls, TV binge-watching, and nonstop news can pull us away from ourselves. Taking time for solitude helps us reconnect, making us better for both ourselves and those around us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f ...  Show more