TED Health

Does Alzheimer's disease disproportionately affect women? In this episode of TED Health, author and health advocate Maria Shriver joins our host Shoshana in a conversation that delves into the gender-based factors of Alzheimer's, the shift in society's narrative around the disease -- and the importance of voicing your own concerns to your doctor.

In this episode, we are revisiting a talk about an inside-out approach to how we diagnose disease. Immuno-engineer and TED Fellow Aaron Morris unveils implantable technology that gives real-time, continuous analysis of a patient's health at the molecular level. "We're creating a diagnostic lab inside your body," Morris says -- and it may pave the way to diagnosing and treating disease better and faster than ever before.

Whether you have one follower or a million, we've all witnessed nastiness and hate speech on social media. YouTube content creator and mental well-being motivator Peachy Liv advocates for a kinder, more respectful digital world -- and urges us all to reflect before we share our thoughts online. Hear her tips for dealing with cyberbullying and personal insights on how we can all make the internet a safer place. After the talk, hear our host Shoshana speak with college mental health psychiatrist Jessi Gold on the importance of protecting mental health in the age of social media.

“Be spreaders of facts and truths,” says scientist and immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci. Having advised seven US presidents on various disease outbreaks including COVID-19, he shares insights on the present and future of pandemics, backed up by decades of experience in public health. Hear him dive into the latest on protecting yourself from the virus, his unwavering faith in science, what he plans to do after retiring (or “rewiring”) -- and soak up some hard-won wisdom for the next generation. This conversation, hosted by TED science curator David Biello, was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. Visit ted.com/membership to become a TED Member.

The molecule responsible for hangovers is ethanol, which we colloquially refer to as alcohol. Ethanol is present in all alcoholic beverages, and generally speaking, the more ethanol, the greater the potential for a hangover. So, how exactly does alcohol cause a hangover— and is there any way to prevent one? Judy Grisel explores the surprising ways that alcohol affects the body. This was originally an animated TED-Ed lesson. It was directed by Anton Bogaty and narrated by Alexandra Panzer, with music by Jarrett Farkas. After the lesson, our host Shoshana dives deeper into the effects of drinking alcohol and the specific impact it may have on women's health.

Globally, about 10% of people will experience an eating disorder during their lifetime. And yet, eating disorders are profoundly misunderstood. Misconceptions about everything from symptoms to treatment make it difficult to navigate an eating disorder or support someone you love as they do so. Anees Bahji shares what is— and isn't— true about eating disorders. Directed by Laura Jayne Hodkin, narrated by Bethany Cutmore-Scott, music by Stephen LaRosa. After the talk our host Shoshana shares six treatment approaches to learn more about the path to recovery.

Breathing clean air is every child's human right," says grassroots campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, while sharing the heartbreaking story of her seven-year-old daughter, Ella Roberta, whose asthma was triggered to a fatal point by air pollution. Now, Adoo-Kissi-Debrah is on a mission to raise awareness about the harmful effects of unsafe air on our health and the planet. In this moving talk, she details why governments have an urgent responsibility to take action on air pollution -- and ensure that all children have a chance to live full and healthy lives. After the talk our host Shoshana speaks with health policy expert Dr. Cara James on the necessary steps towards protecting everyone's right to a healthy environment.

Whether it's dandelions blooming in your backyard or purslane sprouting from the sidewalk, forager Alexis Nikole Nelson is on a mission to show how freely growing flora could make its way to your plate. With contagious enthusiasm and a live cooking demo, she explains the benefits of expanding your palate to include "wild" foods that are delicious, nutritious and planet-friendly -- and gives three tips for helping others go from skeptical to confident in their own food adventures. Stay tuned to hear how the honey bee plays an important role in your health as Shoshana sits down with entomologist and educator Dr. Samuel Ramsey.

Digital public servant Amanda Renteria has seen that the millions of people who rely on government welfare services are often discouraged from seeking them out, frustrated by long lines and unnecessarily complicated processes. At Code for America, a project supported by The Audacious Project, Renteria is helping develop human-centered technology that "respects you from the start, meets you where you are and provides an easy, positive experience." She details the four factors that hinder effective delivery of government benefits and explains Code for America's plan to bring user-centric, digital-first social services to more than 13 million Americans and unlock 30 billion dollars in benefits for low-income families. After the talk, TED Tech host Sherrell Dorsey and co-founder of Promise, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins. highlight the importance of tech that's designed for the people it's helping. If you'd like to hear more ideas on how tech is transforming humanity, follow TED Tech wherever you're listening to this.

Today, there are many ways to conceive a child, thanks to assisted reproductive technologies like IVF and egg-freezing. But the law lags behind these advancements, says attorney Ellen Trachman, troubling parents-to-be with stranger-than-fiction mix-ups and baffling lawsuits. Trachman makes the case for legality to reflect the realities of reproductive innovation -- and prompts you to reconsider what could happen to your own genetic material. Then listen to our host Shoshana as she dives into another critical example of medical technology outpacing the laws that govern it.

A curious, quiet revolution of sound has taken over the internet. Physiologist Craig Richard explains the soothing brain science of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), tracking its rise in popularity and why this fascinating phenomenon is so relaxing to millions of people around the world. After the talk join our host Shoshana for a deep dive into how noise pollution may effect your body.

What would happen if the thing that defined you disappeared overnight? Whether it’s our job, our abilities, or output—many of us meld our identities with the things we do, and often forget who we are in the process. Greta Morgan is a writer and musician whose musical projects include Vampire Weekend, Springtime Carnivore, and Gold Motel. In 2020, Greta was diagnosed with a disorder that completely changed her ability to sing. In this episode of How to Be a Better Human, she shares what her vocal loss and recovery taught her about her inner voice, and how we might find our voice and resilience in both art and the creative process. We're sharing it with you because we think it's a powerful example of how our health can impact our identity and sense of being; we hope you enjoy. How to Be a Better Human is another podcast in the TED Audio Collective. For more episodes, follow the podcast wherever you're listening to this.

When you eat something loaded with sugar, your taste buds, your gut and your brain all take notice. This activation of your reward system is not unlike how bodies process addictive substances such as alcohol or nicotine -- an overload of sugar spikes dopamine levels and leaves you craving more. Nicole Avena explains why sweets and treats should be enjoyed in moderation. (Directed by STK Films, narrated by Michelle Snow, music by Michael Dow.) Stay tuned after the talk to hear our host Shoshana and biochemist Jessie Inchauspé dive into the importance of blood sugar awareness.

Racism makes our economy worse -- and not just in ways that harm people of color, says public policy expert Heather C. McGhee. From her research and travels across the US, McGhee shares startling insights into how racism fuels bad policymaking and drains our economic potential -- and offers a crucial rethink on what we can do to create a more prosperous nation for all. "Our fates are linked," she says. "It costs us so much to remain divided." After the talk, Shoshana sits down with Dr Aletha Maybank -- physician, Chief Health Equity Officer, and Senior Vice President of the American Medical Association -- to discuss how our neighborhoods impact our health.

"Complete silence is very addictive," says Rebecca Knill, a writer who has cochlear implants that enable her to hear. In this funny, insightful talk, she explores the evolution of assistive listening technology, the outdated way people still respond to deafness and how we can shift our cultural understanding of ability to build a more inclusive world. "Technology has come so far," Knill says. "Our mindset just needs to catch up." After the talk hear from former TED speaker and palliative care physician Dr. BJ Miller in conversation with our host Shoshana on how his own disability has informed the way he cares for patients.