TED Health

Kris De Meyer, a neuroscientist and TED Countdown speaker, explores how actions can drive beliefs in the fight against climate change. He challenges the conventional wisdom that awareness must precede action, presenting compelling arguments on how initial actions can rewire our brains. Kris discusses the pitfalls of fear-based communication and the 'Ginger effect', which illustrates miscommunication in climate terms. He offers practical steps to overcome feeling stuck and emphasizes how individual actions can lead to broader societal change.

Dr. Nathan Gray, a palliative care physician and cartoonist from Johns Hopkins, discusses the intersection of art and medicine. He highlights how comics can reveal emotional truths and foster communication in healthcare. Nathan shares his experiences using art to process clinical challenges and moral distress. The conversation dives into balancing empathy and professional boundaries while maintaining patient dignity. He also talks about the importance of integrating creativity into medical training to enhance resilience and understanding.

Jon Hamilton, NPR's science correspondent, dives into the fascinating world of cognitive training and its impact on aging brains. He explains how mental exercises can boost acetylcholine levels, a neurotransmitter that declines with age. Listeners will learn about a study where older participants showed a significant increase in acetylcholine after cognitive workouts, essentially reversing a decade of decline. Hamilton also discusses the importance of combining physical and mental exercises for better brain health and shares tips for sustainable cognitive habits.

Dr. Sasha Hamdani, a psychiatrist and ADHD specialist, dives into what it truly means to live with ADHD, highlighting its impact on emotion and cognition. She discusses how it often presents differently in women and recognizes the role of societal stigma in diagnosis rates. Dr. Hamdani also emphasizes the importance of viewing ADHD strengths, like creativity and hyperfocus, as assets. With her lived experiences, she advocates for personalized care, community support, and practical strategies, including her Focus Genie app, to help individuals harness their attention.

Mark Cuban, a renowned entrepreneur and healthcare disruptor, teams up with Dr. Fumiko Chino, a passionate radiation oncologist and advocate reshaping cancer care. They dive into the emotional toll of medical debt, sharing personal stories that highlight the urgent need for cost transparency. Mark explains how his Cost Plus Drugs initiative is dramatically reducing medication prices while tackling industry complexities, including the role of pharmacy benefit managers. Together, they embody the intersection of empathy and innovation in healthcare.

Dion Dawson, founder of Dion's Chicago Dream, discusses his innovative approach to tackling food insecurity in Chicago. He shares how he replaced outdated pantry models with a data-driven system that delivers fresh produce to thousands of households, promoting dignity and health. Dion emphasizes the importance of economic empowerment through paid staff and quality food over charity handouts. Additionally, healthcare expert Shoshana highlights the impact of social determinants on health outcomes and calls for structural changes to improve community well-being.

Rusha Modi, the creator of a compelling TEDx lesson, dives into the groundbreaking discovery that H. pylori causes stomach ulcers. She debunks common myths about ulcers, explaining that they aren’t caused by stress or spicy food. The discussion highlights Dr. Barry Marshall’s daring self-experiment to show the connection between the bacterium and gastritis. Modi also sheds light on how our stomach protects itself and how antibiotics revolutionized ulcer treatments. This eye-opening exploration makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about ulcers!

Dive into the chaos of caring for aging parents with a blend of humor and honesty. Journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis shares her personal experiences navigating the challenges of dementia and the daily grind. Engage with heartfelt stories from celebrities and experts who offer practical advice, illuminating the emotional complexity of loss. Expect laughs amidst the chaos as they tackle the messy realities of this life stage. Join in on this relatable conversation that feels like a supportive group chat with friends.

Dr. Dhivya Srinivasa, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of the Institute for Advanced Breast Reconstruction, joins chemist Simona Francese, known for her TEDx talk on fingerprint analysis. They discuss Francese's innovative research revealing that fingerprints may contain biomarkers for breast cancer, offering a non-invasive alternative to mammograms. Dr. Srinivasa emphasizes the importance of patient advocacy and addresses the emotional journey of reconstruction, advocating for patients' choices and the crucial role of support in recovery.

Sleep physiologist Jen Walsh, who leads groundbreaking research on cannabis and sleep, discusses her world-first study into medicinal cannabinoids for insomnia. She shares the complexities surrounding cannabis as a sleep aid, noting its historical use and recent legal advancements that facilitate research. Jen reveals that participants in her study experienced increased sleep time and reduced wakefulness using cannabinoids. However, she emphasizes the need for caution, individual variability, and more research before regular use can be recommended.