Chasing Life

What happens in the brain during menopause? As it turns out, the brain gets remodeled, and even rewired, during that very specific time of life. And, while menopause often includes symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, and mood swings... you may be surprised to learn it’s not all bad! On this episode of Chasing Life, Dr. Sanjay Gupta learns from neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Mosconi that there are upsides to this biological phase natural to half the human population. Plus, ways female-identifying people can prepare for it, and a possible link between menopause and Alzheimer’s. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Are you someone who needs a cup of coffee or spot of tea to start the day? Would you be surprised to hear that the key ingredient, the thing that gives you that morning boost - caffeine - is also a psychoactive drug? Whether it’s coffee, tea or soda, people around the world consume some form of caffeine every day. Even kids! But what is it actually doing to our brains? What causes that jolt of energy in the morning, and what are the drawbacks? On this episode of Chasing Life, Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to science writer Michael Pollan about his research, the history of caffeine – and quitting cold turkey. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

From work responsibilities to social engagements to family commitments, our days are jam-packed, and it can be tough to give your brain a break. Rest is an important ingredient for good health, but do you really understand why? On this episode of Chasing Life, Professor Victoria Garfield, who studies sleep and how it impacts our brains and our bodies as we get older, explains what it is about rest that is so good for our brains. Why it’s so important to take time to relax and what surprising new research tells us about the simple act of napping. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

If you have trouble focusing on books, work, or even TV shows, you’re not alone. The fact is our attention spans are getting shorter. And it can feel like our ability to perform and be productive is harder. But is a shorter attention span actually impacting our brain function and overall health? Does it really help to block distractions like social media? In our first episode of an all new season, Sanjay speaks to Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, and author of “Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity.” She’ll tell us what’s actually going on in the brain when we’re attentive and why we’re less focused than we used to be. Professor Mark will also share tips for sharpening our attention spans that go beyond “just put down your phone.” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Over the last year on the podcast Sanjay has been having some very candid conversations with his family. On this special episode of Chasing Life, we revisit conversations with his wife, Rebecca and daughters, Soleil, Sage and Sky about smartphones, social media and their impact on young people. Sanjay also speaks with his brother, Suneel and parents, Damyanti and Subhash, about the myth of the midlife crisis and the ways that we approach life as we age. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Dr. Sanjay Gupta examines the potential benefits of medical marijuana. Over the last 10 years, Dr. Gupta's reporting on the topic has produced seven CNN documentaries. In his most recent investigation, he meets scientists and families who found success using marijuana for patients suffering with dementia. This special report originally aired on CNN on August 6, 2023. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Chasing Life is taking a short break and will be back with new episodes next month. This week, we are sharing Dr. Gupta’s most recent documentary examining the potential benefits of medical marijuana. His investigation explores the fastest growing group of cannabis users, people who are 65 and older. This special report originally aired on CNN on August 6, 2023. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

All season, we’ve been exploring how we can all make the most of our age, at any age. But can where we live improve our longevity? In this episode, Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with National Geographic Fellow and author Dan Buettner. He tells us about the five communities around the world he identified where people live longer and healthier lives than the rest of us, dubbed “Blue Zones.” We’ll explore what they are doing right and how we can apply those findings to our daily lives. And to celebrate the final episode of this season, check out the Chasing Life: Better with Age Playlist assembled by the team. https://qrco.de/beElWD To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Cannabis is often thought of as a young person’s drug. But the reality is that more and more people of all ages are asking their doctors about medical marijuana to treat a whole host of issues, from chronic pain, insomnia, and even some of the symptoms associated with dementia. What's behind this trend? To learn about the benefits and risks of this type of treatment, Dr. Gupta turns to Dr. Aaron Greenstein, a geriatric psychiatrist who treats patients over the age of 65 with mental health issues. Dr. Greenstein will share his personal story of using cannabis to help his grandmother in her final days, and what patients of all ages should consider when seeking out this type of treatment. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Caloric restriction. Blood transfusions. Hormetic stress. Off-label meds. As CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is often asked about the latest “hacks” for longevity that pop up in the news. But do any of these interventions actually work? Can aging actually be stopped, much less reversed? In this episode, Sanjay speaks with Dr. Nir Barzilai, the director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He believes one of the keys to battling aging lies in our cells and genetic makeup. Plus, we hear from self-professed “biohackers,” who have some tips we can all try to extend our healthy years. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

It's no secret there’s added pressure on women to appear ‘ageless.’ But is the pressure to appear youthful getting better or worse? On this episode, Sanjay sits down with actress, filmmaker and author Justine Bateman, who recently made headlines when she announced her decision to forgo fillers or plastic surgery and age ‘naturally.’ Why is a choice like this still so controversial? And what does that say about the way we view aging? Plus, University of California at Irvine Sociology Professor Sabrina Strings explains how attitudes about age and beauty impacts women on a whole different level, and what needs to be done to change the cycle. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

For years, people have been faced with the possibility of suffering a ‘midlife crisis’ when they near age 40. But is the concept scientifically sound? And now that millennials are entering midlife, is what they’re experiencing different than previous generations? In this episode, Sanjay has a candid conversation with his younger brother Suneel about how he is approaching middle age. Then, University of British Columbia professor Nancy Sin explains why midlife is becoming more stressful, and how we all can better deal with it. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

When you’re young, making friends can feel pretty simple, but as you age it can be harder. But it’s important to have friends and there’s scientific proof that quality relationships are important for healthy aging. How can good friendships improve our health outcomes as we age? And how do we make friends at every stage of life? On this episode of Chasing Life, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, reunites with author, psychologist and friendship expert, Marisa Franco to talk about why having good friends is good for our health and the current loneliness epidemic. Plus she’ll share tips on how to make friends, at any age. Plus, a conversation between Sanjay and his best friend of almost 40 years, Sujit. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

The Chasing Life team is off for the holiday, we'll be back next week with another new episode. In the meantime, we are sharing another CNN Audio series, The Prince Mixtape. A series that takes listeners inside the life of one of the greatest American music icons through the people who knew him, worked with him or simply loved him from afar. Host Nichole Perkins digs deep into key moments of his life like when his sexually liberated lyrics gave birth to the Parental Advisory sticker, when he fought to own his masters, and when he rocked that infamous booty cut-out pantsuit. Just like a treasured mixtape from your favorite crush, this show is a reflection of the moments, the thrill and the passion, that made up Prince’s life. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

It’s no secret that our bodies change as we age. We can see it in decreased flexibility and endurance, and older folks can become more susceptible to injuries due to falls. However, experts say there are ways to overcome those challenges and unlock our body’s full potential. In today’s episode, Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks with former long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad nearly 10 years after her record-breaking swim from Havana to Key West at the age of 64. Then, a strength and conditioning coach will tell Sanjay why a focus on jogging may not be the optimal workout for aging bodies. He’ll also share some alternative exercises that people of all ages can try. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Getting older is often seen as a negative, or something to avoid. But the reality is, it’s happening to us every minute of every day. Is there a better way to think about our journey through the years? In our first episode of an all-new season, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with his parents to talk about their approach to getting older. Plus, did you know changing our mindset around aging can influence our health and longevity? To learn more, Dr. Gupta turns to Professor Becca Levy, a professor of epidemiology and psychology at Yale University and author of Breaking the Age Code. Levy shares her science-backed strategies for living longer by simply re-framing the way we think, and talk, about aging -- useful information, no matter how old you are. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

We're all getting older -- every minute of every day - but the word "aging" often feels like a dirty word. Why is there such stigma attached to getting older? How can we prepare to transition through the different stages of life? CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, now in his 50s, is asking these questions, and many more, on the new season of Chasing Life. Join Sanjay as he looks at how his body and mind are changing in real-time and talks to some of his closest friends and family about the passage of time. Building on decades of his own reporting and the latest cutting edge research, Sanjay will explore how he, and the rest of us -- whether we are in our 20s, 50s or 80s -- can look at getting older in a new light and be the best version of ourselves at any age. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

A recent advisory from US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy says there’s not enough evidence to determine whether social media is safe enough for children and adolescents when it comes to their mental health. In this special episode of Chasing Life, Dr. Sanjay Gupta goes one-on-one with Dr. Murthy to examine what led him to sound the alarm, and who should be responsible for tackling the issue. Plus, Sanjay will reflect on conversations he’s had with his own family about the topic and ask Dr. Murthy how his family handles screen time and social media. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Ten years ago, when Dr. Sanjay Gupta began investigating medical marijuana, very few people had ever heard of cannabidiol, or CBD. Six years later, two-thirds of Americans were familiar with CBD and 1 in 7 had tried it. In this episode, Dr. Gupta’s fifth documentary on medical marijuana explores how the science has grown by leaps and bounds and could benefit everything from autism to anxiety. This special report originally aired on CNN on September 29, 2019. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Ten years ago, when Dr. Sanjay Gupta began investigating medical marijuana, very few people had ever heard of cannabidiol, or CBD. Six years later, two-thirds of Americans were familiar with CBD and 1 in 7 had tried it. In this episode, Dr. Gupta’s fifth documentary on medical marijuana explores how the science has grown by leaps and bounds and could benefit everything from autism to anxiety. This special report originally aired on CNN on September 29, 2019. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy