Health
The Brain
![Creating a World With People on the Spectrum](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/8283e9fe-6c1f-4f23-babe-0006cbcedd33/53816186173_f986a725ce_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=789%2C0%2C2951%2C2952&w=290)
Neurodivergent people make up 15% to 20% of the global population, and visionaries are busy trying to foster welcoming environments in areas like adaptive sports, fashion design and the arts. How do we create a world for — and with — people on the spectrum?
![The Menopause Brain](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/74814f52-6fdc-4590-ac38-99b0b9a094d7/53809795359_322c947e2a_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=3356%2C11%2C4630%2C4629&w=290)
The hormonal changes and hot flashes that accompany menopause are familiar to most women, but the accompanying brain changes have not received as much attention. We now know that the inflammatory responses associated with declining levels of estrogen have neurological consequences, which could explain why women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The a...
![Understanding Grief](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/2468836f-deab-46b8-b329-f9d2dd64c34e/53809707833_3f38e415da_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=0%2C595%2C5504%2C5510&w=290)
The experience of loss alters the map of the world imprinted on our brain, disrupting patterns and expectations as it struggles to form new ones. Grief is a kind of longing, not only for what has been lost but for the innocent assumption that our familiar world will remain with us always. We speak of resilience and healing, but in Grief is for People, author Sloane Crosley...
![Will Psychedelics Go Mainstream?](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/c84572ec-3894-4908-8d4f-19c487e7179a/53810485245_1fc8f7f548_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1550%2C0%2C3101%2C3101&w=290)
Scientific investigation is laser focused on psychedelics to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), ease end-of-life anxiety, and address mental health challenges, including addiction. The FDA has issued draft guidelines to drug sponsors studying psychedelic-assisted therapy as it considers an application for MDMA-assisted therapy for use in PTSD care. As regulators...
![On Your Mark, Get Set, Go: The Power of Play at Any Age](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/284ebcb0-ee70-4812-8e61-21178da716bb/53810282838_c2d3e8654a_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1824%2C180%2C2567%2C2567&w=290)
From early childhood to advanced age, we all need some fun. Society hints that there is something childish, even self-indulgent, about playing, but it’s quite the opposite: play helps us handle our adult responsibilities better. Taking time for fun can strengthen relationships, refresh cognitive capacity, bolster creativity, and invigorate daily life. Whether you carve out...
![Thriving through the Arts](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/6dc4415e-0138-47d4-8a1f-0d5a9fbf00e9/53809639789_0816c2615c_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=3197%2C969%2C2554%2C2553&w=290)
Science is confirming what artists have long known—the arts change the body, brain, and behavior. An interdisciplinary new field known as neuroarts is building that evidence and exploring ways to put knowledge into practice. “Imagine a world in which music and the visual arts, dance and movement, theatre and storytelling, architecture and design, and many other art modalit...
![Inside the Mind of a Sociopath](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/47d2bc3e-5f2c-4477-8538-883a08f9b3cf/53807424194_3c3a5b17c1_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=0%2C1078%2C3912%2C3917&w=290)
Mental health professionals consider sociopathy to be a personality disorder characterized by generalized apathy and difficulty internalizing and/or connecting to the learned social emotions. In her new book Sociopath: A Memoir, Patric Gagne freely admits the diagnosis applies to her, and attempts to help readers understand what it's like living with the complex personalit...
![Unlocking the Creative Mind: The Science Behind Innovation and Imagination](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/aeba10de-4755-44b3-b3c2-3ec498c98688/53014059004_f6985259d8_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=0%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
Acclaimed authors and experts Annie Murphy Paul, Sheena Iyengar, and Keith Sawyer explore the multifaceted nature of decision-making, choice, and creativity. Through their unique perspectives, this trio delves into the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and social dynamics, shedding light on how our choices and creative processes shape our lives and the world around...
![The Astonishing Effects of Exercise on the Brain](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/ea4907db-6c62-411c-8b3b-7fae06470897/53012135765_4e9ffeb901_o1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1376%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
From anxiety to focus to memory to joy, physical activity has a truly astounding number of benefits on our brain’s anatomy, physiology, and function. In this interactive session, come prepared to experience real brain change, and walk away with science-based tools you can use every day to improve your brain function.
![Unleashing Your Brain’s Potential: Science, Lifestyle, and Longevity](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/a28fd397-9a67-42ef-9a36-c160e43284fd/53012199488_a0977ab6b6_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1376%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
Forget quick fixes or gimmicks, Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai teach evidence-based lifestyle modifications and cognitive strategies that have shown profound real-world impact. Drawing from their extensive experience in neurology, research, lifestyle medicine, and behavioral neuroscience, they share practical, science-backed tools and strategies for staving off cognitive d...
![Mind-Blowing Neurotech](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/3b77da49-23e4-4360-bca3-b9ebec62b4c5/53009855885_7b3e1a9eef_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1808%2C0%2C4640%2C4640&w=290)
From revolutionary advancements aiding paralysis patients to the therapeutic treatment of PTSD, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) possess boundless potential for merging human biology with cutting-edge technology in unprecedented ways. Three visionaries in this field demonstrate what’s possible now and offer insights into the future trajectory of this technology.
![Tracking and Hacking the Brain](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/190352bc-31c8-4bb4-b255-e129504b68ac/53005926391_9b669ea72b_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1000%2C0%2C4000%2C4000&w=290)
We are entering a world in which tracking and hacking our brains will become commonplace, A.I. can increasingly decode what we’re thinking and imagining, and our brain waves will become the universal controller for the rest of our interactions with technology. This can benefit humanity greatly, but without the right safeguards in place, it also may threaten our last bastio...
![New Paths to Treat and Prevent Brain Disease](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/cbed2695-1619-4bad-bc45-ec520fed21a9/230625_brain_disease_015.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=666%2C0%2C2667%2C2667&w=290)
The mysteries of brain health are hidden deep within the ridges and grooves of the cerebral cortex. Join Mount Sinai Health System neuroscientists in this discussion of new techniques, innovative therapies, and lifestyle changes that unlock the brain’s secrets and boost your performance and longevity. Presented by Mount Sinai
![New Era for Alzheimer’s Disease?](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/772f4126-a2b5-4782-8f41-ec28b72c42a6/52998983235_2ae2225201_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=0%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
The world has renewed hope that impactful treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias may finally be on the horizon. While previous therapies have modestly improved memory and cognition, none has altered the fundamental biology of the disease. Now, we have clinical trial results from monoclonal antibodies that appear to do just that by removing the amyloid-bet...
![Surgeon General Vivek Murthy Speaks Truth on Public Health, Mental Health, and Our Well-Being](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/af7f0c07-0a67-4102-a46c-32082c3d3554/53000201837_54407b1ca3_h.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=266%2C0%2C1067%2C1067&w=290)
As the nation’s top doctor, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy helps to advance the health and well-being of all Americans. He has described the growing youth mental health crisis in America as the “defining public health crisis of our time” and warned that social media carries a “profound risk of harm to the mental health of children and adolescents.” Murthy has also highlig...
![Your Brain on Art](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/26336de7-d3bf-4642-a7ea-f365f81a7958/52997372984_9e32eceb36_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=977%2C0%2C3910%2C3910&w=290)
The arts are not a luxury or an escape, but a vital tool for thriving physically, mentally, and spiritually. Neuroscience explains how art changes the body, brain, and behavior and practitioners are demonstrating its role in advancing health and wellbeing. Learn about the cutting-edge field of neuroarts from the authors of the New York Times bestseller, Your Brain on Art:...
![Mental Health First Aid: Minutes Matter](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/b0e6f07b-c913-4f28-8ae1-333c315f4b6e/52994735379_34b6bd1aec_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1934%2C0%2C4388%2C4388&w=290)
The trauma associated with natural disasters, refugee flight, teenage bullying, or gun violence can endure for a lifetime if appropriate mental health services are not provided. Just as we don’t wait for a wound to become infected before providing treatment, so too we must act quickly to curb emotional damage before it festers. Models of mental health first aid training sh...
![Life in Five Senses](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/f4c26073-472d-470b-8856-f0ba3f03b53a/52995095736_e4e99a2e19_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=912%2C0%2C3648%2C3648&w=290)
It is easy to take for granted the remarkable human ability to see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. Yet engaging fully with these remarkable tools of perception deepens our understanding of the world and paves the way to more mindful living. In her new book, Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World, author Gretchen Rubin draws o...
![Smell: The Cinderella Sense](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/424a6805-2648-44be-9ccb-88d466bce27e/52995002406_86a19e14f7_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=912%2C0%2C3648%2C3648&w=290)
Aromas can trigger memories more forcefully than any other sense. The ability to smell allows us to enjoy nature’s riches, protects us from food gone bad, warns of gas leaks, and provides the perfume of intimacy. It is also the primary communication tool that animals use in the wild. Yet the superpower of smell has historically been under appreciated, the sense people gene...
![Beauty and the Brain](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/b9c981d5-23b3-4e4b-8818-2ca8808cf784/52178458988_f016aa29c8_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1376%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
Philosophers debate the nature of beauty, and poets write tributes to it, but how does science answer the age-old question of whether beauty is in the eye of the beholder? The growing field of neuroaesthetics seeks to illuminate our understanding of how our brains respond to people, places, and things we find beautiful. Designers and architects are now using what science t...