Podcast appearances and mentions of Joel Salinas

Over the weekend, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman was arrested and accused of using a makeshift flamethrower to target Jewish individuals in Boulder, Colorado. This incident follows the recent fatal shooting at a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. Trey Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor, former South Carolina Congressman, and host of Sunday Night in America, joins to discuss the incident and the alarming rise of antisemitic incidents in the United States. An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older now live with Alzheimer's. According to the Alzheimer's Association, one in three older adults dies with some form of dementia. Research surrounding the disease is rapidly evolving, with over 100 potential new treatments in the pipeline. Dr. Joel Salinas, Chief Medical Officer for Isaac Health and clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health, joins the Rundown to discuss the progress being made in fighting Alzheimer's, including a new blood test that can help detect it early. Plus, commentary from the host of “Tomi Lahren is Fearless on Outkick,”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the weekend, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman was arrested and accused of using a makeshift flamethrower to target Jewish individuals in Boulder, Colorado. This incident follows the recent fatal shooting at a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. Trey Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor, former South Carolina Congressman, and host of Sunday Night in America, joins to discuss the incident and the alarming rise of antisemitic incidents in the United States. An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older now live with Alzheimer's. According to the Alzheimer's Association, one in three older adults dies with some form of dementia. Research surrounding the disease is rapidly evolving, with over 100 potential new treatments in the pipeline. Dr. Joel Salinas, Chief Medical Officer for Isaac Health and clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health, joins the Rundown to discuss the progress being made in fighting Alzheimer's, including a new blood test that can help detect it early. Plus, commentary from the host of “Tomi Lahren is Fearless on Outkick,”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the weekend, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman was arrested and accused of using a makeshift flamethrower to target Jewish individuals in Boulder, Colorado. This incident follows the recent fatal shooting at a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. Trey Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor, former South Carolina Congressman, and host of Sunday Night in America, joins to discuss the incident and the alarming rise of antisemitic incidents in the United States. An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older now live with Alzheimer's. According to the Alzheimer's Association, one in three older adults dies with some form of dementia. Research surrounding the disease is rapidly evolving, with over 100 potential new treatments in the pipeline. Dr. Joel Salinas, Chief Medical Officer for Isaac Health and clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health, joins the Rundown to discuss the progress being made in fighting Alzheimer's, including a new blood test that can help detect it early. Plus, commentary from the host of “Tomi Lahren is Fearless on Outkick,”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, host Dr. Daniel Correa is joined by sisters Johanna and Antonia Bennett. They reminisce on time spent with their father, legendary musician Tony Bennett, and discuss the experiences they had as a family before and during his journey with Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Correa is then joined by Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist, clinical assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and chief medical officer of Isaac Health in New York. Dr. Salinas discusses how family members can care for their loved ones with humanity and respect and models ways that tough conversations can be started throughout all stages of symptoms. Additional Resources Do You Still Think of Me by Antonia Bennett Tony Bennett Demonstrates the Power of Music Against Alzheimer's Disease Lynda Carter Advocates for Those with Alzheimer's Disease   Other Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on This Topic Journalist Greg O'Brien on Chronicling His Life with Alzheimer's Actors Oscar Nuñez and Ursula Whittaker on Caring for Loved Ones with Dementia Lauren Miller Rogen on Facing a Parent's Early-Onset Alzheimer's Diagnosis   We want to hear from you! Have a question or want to hear a topic featured on the Brain & Life Podcast? Record a voicemail at 612-928-6206 Email us at BLpodcast@brainandlife.org   Social Media: Guests: Antonia Bennett @antoniabennett; Johanna Bennett @johannabennett; Dr. Joel Salinas @JoelSalinasMD Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In our divided world we face or avoid conflicts on a frequent basis. I turned to Bob Bordone and Joel Salinas to find out the best strategies to deal with these, including having them take on a mock conflict between each other on the merits of Covid research.Audio fileYou can also find this on Spotify and Apple podcasts with Ground Truths.The video is also posted on YouTubeTranscript with Audio LinksEric Topol (00:06):Well, hello. It's Eric Topol with Ground Truths, and we're going to get into a new book called Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In, and we're lucky to have its two authors, Bob Bordone, who is a Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School, and Joel Salinas, who is a physician, neurologist, a clinician scientist at NYU. So welcome both Bob and Joel.Bob Bordone and Joel Salinas (00:34):Thank you for having us. Yeah, looking forward to the conversation.Eric Topol (00:37):Yeah. So first, how did you guys get together? This is a pretty diverse, you got law and medicine, usually they don't talk to each other very much.Bob Bordone (00:46):Well, we were very fortunate. I mean, we basically were friends, but part of that friendship, I think emerged from work that I do around conflict issues in the Mass General system and then just the larger, bigger Mass General, Harvard community. Yeah, so this began really as a friendship where we were each swimming in very different waters, but then as we would start to talk, we realized there was a lot of connection and maybe the possibility to bring two different disciplines together in a way that might be practically useful and make an impact. And even when we started writing this, which was during Covid, what seemed to be some pretty polarizing times that were unlikely to resolve by the time the book would come out.Eric Topol (01:44):Yeah, well you sure hit it with the divisiveness and the polarized world that we live in is perhaps worse than ever, certainly in all my years, and probably long before then as well. So this topic of resilience, it's a very interesting concept because some people might think of resilience as just being tough. So go into a conflict and just go heavy tough. That obviously is not what you're writing about. And I guess maybe we can start off, what was the goal here? Obviously, there's other books that have addressed this topic, I'm sure, but yours is somewhat unique in many respects because it brings in the science of it and many strategies perhaps that have never been developed. But when you got together, what was the mission that you set out to do?Joel Salinas (02:38):Yeah, well maybe I can start out and then you can add on. So my research has been all around understanding how social relationships influenced brain health, and one of the things that I was seeing was social isolation and loneliness had been steadily increasing. Want to figure out what kind of interventions or what are the factors that are involved here? And I think one of the things that has stood out is just the difficulty with being able to navigate conflict in different contexts. And so, the idea around conflict resilience is really, even though there's been lots of books on what to say and what specific tactics to use, I think that there was this skillset around just being able to sit with the discomfort of that disagreement, which will ultimately help make it much more useful to take on those tactics. One way to think about it, if it's like all these tactics are like learning how to cook with a set of recipes in the kitchen, what we're really proposing here is that you also need to be able to stand the heat of the kitchen to even be able to cook.Eric Topol (03:47):Okay. Go ahead, Bob.Bob Bordone (03:49):Yeah, and I would say I was starting to write about my first kind of piece on this topic where I use the word conflict resilience was in 2018, and it really came from an observed dynamic that I was seeing in my teaching of Harvard Law School students. I was on the admissions committee, I'd been on the admissions committee for many years. I knew that we worked very hard and were quite successful in fact, at bringing together a very diverse student body, including politically. And people sometimes maybe think of elite law schools as being very progressive. But Harvard Law School, the biggest student organization is actually the Federalists, which is the conservative students. And despite that effort, what I noticed in the classroom was a reduction in conversation, diversity of viewpoint across the board, interesting classrooms became boring. And even though I was teaching around conflict and negotiation and difficult conversations, I would read in students' journals things like, I want to avoid conflict or I don't want to get into it.Bob Bordone (04:59):And so, it occurred to me that quite a part, as Joel said, from any skills, if we don't develop this capacity to sit with disagreement, then we will never get to problem solving. I'm in favor of problem solving. But this paper on conflict resilience, its original title was called Against Problem Solving. Mostly because I thought that if we had opened the possibility of problem solving as a precondition for entering the room, then we might never enter the room, particularly if we've told the demonized and dehumanized story about them. And so, that somehow we had to make the case that sitting with the discomfort of the disagreement, even if it didn't mean problem solving, although we hope for that, even if we didn't mean that it was worthwhile and it was important. And so, part of what was really attractive to me about joining up with Joel is that he just brought all of this brain science aspect to it that I had this kind of teaching and kind of academic in the negotiation and dispute resolution research experience, but couldn't bring to bear the kind of brain science parts of, well, what is going on in our brain when we do want to run or when we get into that really unproductive battle.Eric Topol (06:27):Yeah, I agree that the unique part here is that whole scaffolding with the neuroscience, the behavioral science, and those five Fs that you mentioned. You alluded to fight, flight, freeze, fawn, or fester. Yeah, so avoidance of conflict has kind of been the default for many people now because we have political divides, we have anti-science versus pro-science divides and on and on. There's a quote in the book that I thought we'd start off with because it really lays the groundwork from you both. “The biggest hidden barrier to being conflict resilient stems from the inability or unwillingness to face and sit with our own internal conflicts - the negotiations between our divided and sometimes contradictory “selves.” Even more surprising is that although there are dozens of self-help books on negotiation and conflict resolution, almost none of them spend any meaningful time on this critical intrapersonal barrier to handing conflict.” So maybe Joel, maybe start you off here. I guess you were bullied as a kid, and maybe that gives you a little background here. Joel, tell us about that if you would.Bob Bordone (07:46):Hey, Eric. On our bad days sometimes I probably inadvertently bully Joel still today, but he's pretty resilient now.Joel Salinas (07:53):Yeah, I'm a Teflon. So I think I am generally conflict of what an individual, and I think a lot of listeners and viewers can relate with that experience. And I think that also kind of speaks to some of the neuroscience that comes into this, which is that our brain has really evolved to be a fortune telling machine. It takes all of our past experiences, turns them into memories, and then makes projections about what's going to happen. And this projection or prediction of what's going to happen might as well be reality for our brain's sake. And so, if we had really negative experiences with conflict in the past growing up, whether through our families or the schoolyard or others, there'll be likely a very negative charge of negative emotional charge that comes with that. And what that does is that it increases the chances that you'll trigger this system for salience and arousal, which then sets off the alarms essentially in your body that then creates these fight or flight type responses where you're more likely to fall back on these really reflexive behaviors to make the bad thing less bad.Joel Salinas (09:08):And when you do that, whether it's through avoiding or to blowing through conflict like a battering ram that then trains your brain to assign some kind of a reward using the orbital frontal cortex, a system that kind of keeps tabs over how much reward you get for a behavior, it makes it much more likely that you'll do it again. And so, we from a very young age, develop a propensity to either avoid conflict or tackle it. And it varies depending on the context and how you're feeling, but it just makes it much, much harder to be able to bring on a much more thoughtful and deliberative approach to conflict.Eric Topol (09:49):Yeah, I mean, I think one of the salient points is that avoiding the conflict can make things worse. And as you described that it's not, I would've thought that there are some people who are just innately gifted to being diplomatic and artful about having to deal with the conflict issue and others, there's just no hope. But in fact, it can be acquired. And you alluded to this kind of neuroplasticity, the brain and you advocate for chair work. Can you tell us about chair work, because that's something I wouldn't have thought would help in this manner.Bob Bordone (10:30):Sure. I mean, I'll say a little bit work about that. A big part of this chair work idea, frankly, is influenced by work in internal family systems. And I was very fortunate early in my career, even though I was at teaching at law school to start partnering with some folks who did IFS work, they call it peace work often. But the chair work is really identifying some of these conflicted sides of ourself, right? The side of ourself that maybe feels like it's important and okay to raise this issue because it's something that matters to me and maybe the side of ourself that feels like it's pointless and it will hurt the relationship and maybe the side of ourself that's fearful and to name each of them. And then to actually give each in preparation a physical chair where we sit in that chair and give voice to each of those sides.Bob Bordone (11:32):And I'm imagining that at least some people listening to this will say, this sounds very hokey, and does he really mean going to the chairs? And the answer is, yes, I do mean that because there is something about the physicality of it that forces you to give voice to something that is true and real in you. And the chair work is very helpful to set up what an opening might be into a hard conversation, meaning that all of the chairs are real and authentic and okay, they're worthy of getting some voice. So as someone who teaches in a law school, it's all about advocacy. And you would find students who would be very good at advocating on behalf of a client would be incredibly poor at advocating on behalf of themself. And so, separating out the side that maybe has a little bit of feeling, it's selfish, but actually giving it a legitimate voice, help them when they get to the table to be able to say, I'm worried about this, or I realize I may be wrong about this, or it might be upsetting. And also, it's important and deserves to be heard because one of the things around avoidance is we often do avoidance in service of preserving the relationship or not disrupting. And we do maybe preserve the relationship for the time being of the person across the table, except we go home and there's still the side of us that is not feeling good about it, and the person we're not preserving the relationship with is that side, then we just get to have a sleepless night. And so, that's really the kind of idea behind the chair work.Eric Topol (13:22):That's helpful, Bob. I guess managing conflict, of course, I think we know you don't get emotional. Okay, sure. But yeah, there's three parts of that, three components, self-awareness. We've been talking about that deep listening, which of course when you're engaging in a discussion that's potentially leading to escalation of a conflict or the amplification that is really important. And then effective assertion. Now, that's where it seems to me things fall apart. If you're making effective assertion, then everything kind of blows up. So tell us about how you can be assertive and still, you're not trying to win the argument. I get that, but how can you be assertive and still come out in a positive way?Joel Salinas (14:16):Maybe I can start, Bob.Joel Salinas (14:19):I think one of the things that really is a good predictor of how effective you'll be at effective assertion is how good you were at the deep listening part. So the more genuine you are and curious you are about the perspective of the other person, really understanding what are the set of facts, experiences, beliefs that eventually lead up to that headline of what their position is or what their interests are. The better you'll be able articulate your own perspective while still engaging in the conversation. And the other thing that's really important here is that in that listening piece, it's really essential to be able to bring in tenets of really great listening that includes eliminating distractions, both external and internal. It involves having a nonjudgmental position toward the other person and being able to reflect an understanding of what the other person is saying. But all of that does not mean that you are endorsing their point of view. And I think that's really essential. It's really about getting as clear as you can about where the other person is coming from. So that way when you have an opportunity to share your perspective, you're able to really speak to the concerns of the other person and your own.Eric Topol (15:46):Yeah. Well, in reading the book, it took me, interestingly to an evening discussion I had with a very close friend.Eric Topol (15:56):And he was saying, we do need a randomized trial of the measles vaccine, MMR for autism. And I said, what? And I started thinking about, well, I'm going to hear him out because there's so much evidence now that you would think this has been totally debunked. And his view is, well, it can't hurt. And I'm thinking, well, so in that discussion, a lot of these points that you've been raising help me to come not to a point where basically I was trying to put a bow on it, as you said, or trying to externalize or abstract it. But to have a happy ending with him about this saying, okay, well it's never going to get done, but if you want to get it, I'm supportive of that. We don't do enough of this. I had to listen to what he had to say. I had to deal with my own confirmation biases and not get emotional and all that stuff, right. Now, I'd like the two of you to role play on something like that if you would. And let me just give you an example. Maybe you can run with it. Let's go to Covid, okay?Eric Topol (17:14):So one of you will take the side that we shouldn't do any more Covid research because the pandemic is over and we need to be efficient and not use these funds for other things. Covid is over, Long Covid is a hoax, and the other person will take the side that, no, this is a really big deal because Covid has not gone away and there's still a endemic of the virus, Long Covid in millions of people. Who wants to take away the funds? Would that be you, Bob?Bob Bordone (17:52):As a lawyer, I am happy to take any side.Eric Topol (17:55):Okay. You are the one to be on that side. Okay. And Joel, you are going to be the pro science side, if you will. Can you start that argument?Bob Bordone (18:05):Eric, can I make a suggestion? Yeah, but I'm happy to. It might be fun if one of us tries to be a person who hasn't read the book and the other person maybe tries to actually model the skills. What do you think about that?Eric Topol (18:18):Sure. Yeah, that's fine.Joel Salinas (18:19):Bob, I'll take on the unskilled position.Bob Bordone (18:22):Okay, fine.Joel Salinas (18:25):All right. So Bob, you know what? I keep hearing about people wanting to cut Covid funding and just really, I just can't believe it. It just makes me want to throw up because there's such an important need to do this research. It's just critical to understand the long-term effects of it, and Covid even gone yet. So I just can't believe that people would even want to cut this research at all.Bob Bordone (18:50):Well, first of all, it sounds like you're stunned and surprised by this. Am I right about that?Joel Salinas (18:56):Yeah, I'm beyond stunned. I'm revolted by it.Bob Bordone (19:01):So you're pretty angry about it. And I'm curious if I can ask you, you said that the disease is still going on, and of course Covid still exists. I am curious from your perspective, what do you think the benefits of spending lots and lots of money on the diseases at this point, since it's not at that level where it's killing a lot of people?Joel Salinas (19:30):Well, I think that it is killing a lot of people. Still, the disease hasn't gone away and it has a huge impact on health. I think we're still feeling the impacts on that. So I think that being able to understand what the impact does require funding to be able to do the research. And if we don't do that research, then we don't understand what interventions there can be.Bob Bordone (19:51):And what are the impacts? I mean, clearly there's impacts of the pandemic broadly in our society, but what are the kinds of health impacts from your perspective that research would be helpful to from a medical perspective?Joel Salinas (20:05):Well, for sure it impacts cognition. We have people talking about brain fog and Long Covid, and that has a real societal impact on productivity and people's ability to engage in life. It affects people's mood. And then you've got the people who have respiratory symptoms from Covid that have continued to gone on, and that decreases their ability to do their day-to-day things. It's a real societal impact.Bob Bordone (20:28):And how would you think about balancing whatever impact Covid has from all of the other funding choices that need to be made given a shrinking research pool for funds?Joel Salinas (20:44):I don't know. I mean, I think it's an important priority, and I know that there's a lot of other priorities. I think it needs to be weighed against a lot of other big programs that are out there. I just want to make sure that it doesn't go away because it needs to happen.Bob Bordone (20:56):Yeah. No, it's helpful to hear that. And if we had more time, I'd ask you some more questions. I mean, one thing that, as I think about this is given just the number of priorities out there, I worry that because Covid was in the press so much and is so politicized that we overweight the importance of money in that direction. And I would say that there's probably other things if we have a fixed set of money that kills a lot more people and has a lot more health impact. And so, I'd rather see the funds get placed there than just satisfy some kind of highly salient political issue.Joel Salinas (21:40):And I just want to make sure that the funding happens. I mean, it should be to a level that it makes sense to continue the funding so that we get good results from it, that it can be applied. But yeah, I guess you're right that it needs to be weighed against other research priorities. I mean, that's a whole other topic that gets me upset, but I think I just want to make sure that this funding doesn't go away.Bob Bordone (22:03):Yeah. So it sounds like for you, the concern is less about reduction and more about moving it to zero?Joel Salinas (22:12):I think so, yeah.Bob Bordone (22:13):And if it did move to zero, what is the thing you'd be most worried about?Joel Salinas (22:18):I think we would lose out on this really unique opportunity after all these people had been affected by this condition to understand the long-term effects. So that way, if there's another resurgence, we'll understand what can we do about it to mitigate those effects. I mean, we're still trying to figure out what the effects of a lockdown were on people. I think that's something that needs to be better understood.Bob Bordone (22:40):So for you, the research is very forward looking about future pandemics that might come up.Joel Salinas (22:46):Absolutely.Bob Bordone (22:47):And that might be something that I'd be more interested in than how can we prevent future pandemics than I would worrying about. I mean, it's very regrettable what has happened to this set of people who have Long Covid, of course. I just think that that has happened, and I would almost rather see the funds move in the direction of how do we prevent another pandemic than how do we worry about a relatively small set of people, although it's tragic on them, a relatively small set of people who may still suffer those benefits.Joel Salinas (23:26):Yeah, I think we do want to focus on the prevention, definitely. I still just don't want to lose sight of making sure that we're getting the research done that needs to happen.Bob Bordone (23:38):Should we cut?Eric Topol (23:39):That's helpful. These are two experts in conflict resilience here. I mean, the only thing I'd add is that Long Covid is affecting millions of Americans, perhaps as many as 60 million people around the world, and we have no treatment for it. So it's a big deal.Bob Bordone (23:56):I just want to say for the record, I was just being an actor there.Eric Topol (24:03):Yeah, that's okay.Bob Bordone (24:04):I don't even know if my arguments on the other side were making sense, but I was trying.Eric Topol (24:08):I think you did a good job. I think both of you did a good job. I think the point here is that you were able to have a civil discussion, make your points, I forced you into it. You couldn't avoid it. You're in touch, obviously with your own innate issues. You kind of really emphasize that throughout the book, which is you got to be in touch with yourself, not just about your priors, but also your current, what you're feeling, your posture, your heart rate, all these other physical things. So you really got us queued into what's important when you're having a discussion that could lead to, it could exacerbate the conflict rather than help come to a happy mid stance or where both people feel that they've expressed themselves adequately. I really love the Frederick Douglass quote in your book, “if there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation…want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.” I think that is so rich. And before we wrap up, I just want to get your overall thoughts. What haven't we touched on in our brief conversation about the topic, about the book that we should before we close today? Maybe start with you, Bob.Bob Bordone (25:53):Yeah, I mean, in some sense, I think it connects to exactly that quote, which is that without conflict, we are not going to get the kind of changes and dynamism we would want in our organizations, whether it's a medical center, a country, a family, but also without the conflict, we don't get the deeper connection that is possible because it's not until the first, no, that all of the yeses actually have the meaning that they should. And so, even though it seems scary to go into conflict, what I would say is it offers opportunities maybe for agreement, but if not for agreement, for a deeper kind of more authentic and real relationship. And I would just say for me, part of this is inviting people to reframe the way they think about what conflict can do in their lives.Joel Salinas (26:58):Yeah. I think if there's one thing that listeners or viewers take from this is awareness is more than half the battle. So just really taking the time to become more aware of how you react to different disagreements with different conflicts, how you're responding to it physically and mentally, and what specific patterns might emerge in terms of whether it's with colleagues, with people with authority, with family members. And I think that alone begins to get you to pay more attention about how you can be more deliberate in your responses. And ideally, you can try out some of the skills from the book with those disagreements that are a little less stressful for you. Just like when you go to the gym, you don't start out by lifting the heaviest weights. You start out by getting the reps down with the good form, and then you build that muscle. And similar with building the brain programming wiring around it is to start low and build up from there.Eric Topol (27:57):Yeah. Well, I think what you have put forth in the book will go down anchoring such an important problem. It's magnified now than more than ever. People are socially isolated, not just in the pandemic, but post pandemic and the divisiveness is profound. So hopefully the tips that you've provided, the science behind it, the practical ways to navigate and deal with this will help people as we go forward. So thank you both for the work you did in putting together the book, and hopefully some of our listeners or viewers will use these tools in the future and will have much better exchanges with others who have different views, different what might be considered adversarial perspective, whatever. So thank you very much for joining today.Joel Salinas (28:58):Well, thank you.Bob Bordone (28:59):Thank you for having us. It's been a delight.********************************As you can imagine, I'm excited to get my new book out on May 6th. It's about extended our healthspan, and I introduce 2 of my patients (one below, Mrs. L.R.) as exemplars to learn from. My op-ed preview of the book was published in The NY Times last week. Here's a gift link. I did a podcast with Mel Robbins on the book here. Here's my publisher ‘s (Simon and Schuster) site for the book. If you're interested in the audio book, I am the reader (first time I have done this, quite an experience!)Here's the back cover to give you an idea of what some people had to say about it.Thanks for reading and subscribing to Ground Truths.If you found this interesting please share it!That makes the work involved in putting these together especially worthwhile.All content on Ground Truths—its newsletters, analyses, and podcasts, are free, open-access.Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don't hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Many thanks to those who have contributed—they have greatly helped fund our summer internship programs for the past two years. Get full access to Ground Truths at erictopol.substack.com/subscribe

This week's episode of Brain & Life Podcast was recorded live at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting! Hosts Dr. Daniel Correa and Dr. Katy Peters were joined by Joel Salinas, MD, MBA, MSc, FAAN, Andrea Lendaris, MD, MS, Andrew M. Southerland, MD, FAAN, and Eric J. Seachrist, MD to share what it's like living and practicing neurology with their own neurological condition(s) and neurodiverse perspectives, and explore how their experiences serve as a window into the patient and community perspective.   Additional Resources Neurology®Podcast Switching Roles: A Neuro-oncologist Reflects on his Own Experience with a Brain Tumor   We want to hear from you! Have a question or want to hear a topic featured on the Brain & Life Podcast? ·       Record a voicemail at 612-928-6206 ·       Email us at BLpodcast@brainandlife.org   Social Media:   Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

What if we stopped trying to win or avoid conflict—and instead built the resilience to grow through it? In this episode, neurologist Joel Salinas and conflict resolution expert Bob Bordone offer a powerful reframe on disagreement, showing how neuroscience and self-awareness can help us break old patterns and build stronger relationships. Topics [0:00] BG Special Announcement! [1:15] Intro and Speed Round with Joel and Bob [6:29] What is Conflict Resilience? [10:41] The Neuroscience Behind Conflict [18:35] Understanding Our Reflexive Conflict Responses [25:03] Practical Applications and Examples [32:15] Neuroplasticity and Changing How We Handle Disagreement [42:15] Building a Culture of Conflict Resilience at Work [49:45] Dolly Parton: A Model for Growth? [53:15] Desert Island Music Picks [55:15] Grooving Session: Conflict Resilience at Work and Beyond ©2025 Behavioral Grooves Links Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In More About Joel Salinas More About Bob Bordone Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Music Links Lady Gaga - Abracadabra Billie Eilish - Birds of a Feather Philip Glass - Prophecies Kelly Clarkson - Because of You

What if your next disagreement could actually bring you closer to someone instead of driving you apart? In this episode, we're diving into Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In with co-authors Bob Bordone, a conflict resolution expert from Harvard, and Joe Salinas, a behavioral neurologist and founder of Isaac Health. Together with Yael, they have a down-to-earth conversation about what it really takes to stay present in conflict and why that matters for your relationships and your brain.  You'll hear personal stories, surprising research, and powerful insights on why it's so important to get comfortable with discomfort, listen with an open heart, and know when (and how) to engage in tough conversations. Listen and Learn:  What happens when a conflict avoider and a conflict expert team up to explore how tension builds connection? Why do two people experience the same conflict so differently, and how does your brain shape that story? Is conflict really worse today, or have we just lost the resilience to stay in the heat and handle it? Why avoiding conflict rewires your brain to fear it and building resilience means facing the heat, slowly. How sharing real stories across deep divides can reshape how we see “the other” and actually spark true change. Can deeper listening to those we disagree with reshape our brains, our beliefs, and maybe even our world? Why listening grows from curiosity to open space for real connection Knowing when to engage or exit conflict starts with curiosity and protects both peace and power Resources:  Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In: http://www.conflictresiliencebook.com Joel's website: https://joelsalinasmd.com/ Bob's website: https://www.bobbordone.com/about-me#:~:text=My%20Story,served%20as%20the%20Thaddeus%20R Yael's newsletter interview with the authors of You're Not as Crazy as I Thought (But You're Still Wrong)—on the topic of moving from “me versus you” to “us versus the problem” Additional Books Referenced in the Episode  Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781250338143  The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780393354775 Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780525434955 The Klansman's Son: My Journey from White Nationalism to Antiracism: A Memoir: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781419764783 You're Not as Crazy as I Thought (But You're Still Wrong): https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781612344614 About Bob Bordone:  Robert C. Bordone is a Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School, founder and former director of the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program, former Thaddeus R. Beal Clinical Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, and founder of The Cambridge Negotiation Institute. He is co-author of Designing Systems and Processes for Managing Disputes, and co-editor of The Handbook of Dispute Resolution. Bordone was ranked among 2025's World's Top 30 Negotiation Professionals by Global Gurus. About Joel Salinas:  Joel Salinas, M.D. is a behavioral neurologist, scientist, and Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, founder and Chief Medical Officer at Isaac Health, and former Harvard Medical School faculty. He is the author of Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain.   Related Episodes: 51. The Psychology of Political Division with Yael and Debbie 392. Outraged with Kurt Gray 397. The Mindful Path to Intimacy with James Còrdova 276. Assertive Communication Skills with Randy Paterson 371. Uniting Toward a Better Future with Diana McLain Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of SuperPsyched, hosted by psychologist Dr. Adam Dorsay, experts Robert Bordone and Dr. Joel Salinas discuss their book, 'Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In.' They delve into the common misconceptions about conflict, arguing that it is a natural and necessary part of human relationships. The conversation touches on the importance of conflict resilience, the ability to comfortably sit with disagreement, and offers practical advice on building this skill. The authors highlight their own experiences and stress the importance of proper conflict management in various aspects of life, including personal relationships and political discourse.00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched00:29 Introducing Conflict Resilience02:06 Meet the Authors: Robert Bordone and Dr. Joel Salinas03:00 Understanding Conflict and Its Myths07:00 Personal Experiences with Conflict09:18 Defining Conflict Resilience11:15 Building Conflict Resilience14:28 Practical Applications and Real-Life Stories16:50 Creating a Conflict-Resilient Environment31:49 Final Thoughts and AspirationsHelpful Links:Robert BordoneJoel SalinasConflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In Book

Dr. Joel Salinas, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Julius Bruch, Co-Founder and CEO of Isaac Health, leverage virtual care and home visits to provide proactive, technology-enabled services for early diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Their mission is to reduce barriers to cognitive assessment and improve access to personalized care plans and treatments that can delay brain disease progression. The key is respecting the patient's decisions and building trust with the care team. Joel explains, "The first thing is really just meeting people where they're at. It's so hard to get access to high-quality care due to wait times and geographic reasons. What we're building at Isaac is meant to require zero distance and move a hundred times faster than the current care journey. The other piece is we develop these partnerships where we're much more proactive about identifying changes that someone might be having with memory or thinking. We are looking at risk factors that they may have within their health record and then actually doing some outreach to those who may have some undiagnosed cognitive impairment. Part of the goal here is by meeting people when their symptoms are at their earliest, we have an opportunity of really a golden window of time to be able to bring in interventions that can impact the long-term trajectory of their brain health." Julius elaborates, "We have built a very extensive technology platform that underpins the entire care journey, from identifying and screening patients to diagnosing, treating, and care management, and seeing as you specifically asked about the diagnosis part. So once we've identified that the member is at high risk, we reach out to them and enroll them in one of our programs. The first visit is generally a medical assessment, and we use a neuropsychologist who does that initial assessment. Still, our platform guides that whole interaction to make sure that we collect all the right information in the most efficient way possible. So it's still very much over Zoom because it is the most effective way to get to the information in this population. Our platform supports the whole care flow and makes sure that it's run as efficiently as possible." #IsaacHealth #BrainHealth #DementiaCare #Caregiversupport #GUIDEModel #DigitalHealth #HealthEquity #EarlyDetection #DigitalHealthcare #Telehealth #InnovativeHealthcare #PatientEmpowerment myisaachealth.com Download the transcript here

Dr. Joel Salinas, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Julius Bruch, Co-Founder and CEO of Isaac Health, leverage virtual care and home visits to provide proactive, technology-enabled services for early diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Their mission is to reduce barriers to cognitive assessment and improve access to personalized care plans and treatments that can delay brain disease progression. The key is respecting the patient's decisions and building trust with the care team. Joel explains, "The first thing is really just meeting people where they're at. It's so hard to get access to high-quality care due to wait times and geographic reasons. What we're building at Isaac is meant to require zero distance and move a hundred times faster than the current care journey. The other piece is we develop these partnerships where we're much more proactive about identifying changes that someone might be having with memory or thinking. We are looking at risk factors that they may have within their health record and then actually doing some outreach to those who may have some undiagnosed cognitive impairment. Part of the goal here is by meeting people when their symptoms are at their earliest, we have an opportunity of really a golden window of time to be able to bring in interventions that can impact the long-term trajectory of their brain health." Julius elaborates, "We have built a very extensive technology platform that underpins the entire care journey, from identifying and screening patients to diagnosing, treating, and care management, and seeing as you specifically asked about the diagnosis part. So once we've identified that the member is at high risk, we reach out to them and enroll them in one of our programs. The first visit is generally a medical assessment, and we use a neuropsychologist who does that initial assessment. Still, our platform guides that whole interaction to make sure that we collect all the right information in the most efficient way possible. So it's still very much over Zoom because it is the most effective way to get to the information in this population. Our platform supports the whole care flow and makes sure that it's run as efficiently as possible." #IsaacHealth #BrainHealth #DementiaCare #Caregiversupport #GUIDEModel #DigitalHealth #HealthEquity #EarlyDetection #DigitalHealthcare #Telehealth #InnovativeHealthcare #PatientEmpowerment myisaachealth.com Listen to the podcast here

Conflict is everywhere, from our personal relationships to workplaces and society at large. Too often, we either retreat into echo chambers or lash out with hostility, leaving us stuck in cycles of resentment and division. But what if conflict wasn't something to fear or avoid? In their groundbreaking book Conflict Resilience, law professor Robert Bordone and neurologist Joel Salinas introduce a radical new approach—befriending conflict as a catalyst for growth and connection.Working on Purpose is broadcast live Tuesdays at 6PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). Working on Purpose is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).Working on Purpose Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-on-purpose--2643411/support.

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 536, an interview with the coauthor of Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In, Joel Salinas, MD.   In this episode, Joel Salinas talks about conflict resilience and how our brain reacts to disagreements. He explains how loneliness affects health, how conflicts activate pain-related brain areas, and shares techniques to manage stress. Joel also discusses brain plasticity, how age affects conflict resolution, and the power of focusing on positive outcomes to break negative thought patterns.   Joel Salinas, MD is a behavioral neurologist and clinician scientist at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, founder and Chief Medical Officer at Isaac Health, and former Harvard Medical School faculty. He is the author of Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain.   Get Joel's book here: https://rb.gy/d1tqrx Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In   Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo  

#592: Ever wonder what's happening in your brain right before you knock on your boss's door to ask for a raise? Dr. Joel Salinas, neurologist and brain health expert, joins us to explain the neurology of negotiation. When you avoid difficult conversations, your brain actually rewards you with a small dopamine hit. That temporary relief feels good, reinforcing the avoidance behavior. But Dr. Salinas explains this creates a problematic loop: the more you avoid conflict, the more uncomfortable it becomes when you face it. Breaking this cycle starts with a simple but powerful step: taking a breath. A long, slow exhale activates the more deliberative parts of your brain, helping you move beyond knee-jerk reactions. Dr. Salinas suggests focusing on what he calls the "Bigger Better Offer" — the meaningful reward that comes from pushing through discomfort. Thinking about what happens if you don't ask for that raise (struggling to pay bills, missing career advancement) can motivate you to overcome avoidance tendencies. Beyond workplace conflicts, we explore fascinating brain facts: Your brain constructs reality like "one great big hallucination" Neural pathways that fire together wire together Conflict isn't a sign of failure — it's actually necessary for authentic connection Want to boost your brain health? Dr. Salinas recommends regular exercise, brain-healthy foods like leafy greens and berries, quality sleep, supportive social connections, and challenging yourself with new skills. The conversation meanders through various aspects of brain function — from why humans are visual creatures to how trauma impacts neural pathways — all explained in accessible, engaging terms. Whether you're looking to have difficult conversations more effectively or simply curious about the remarkable three-pound organ controlling your reality, this episode offers practical insights into the science of your mind. Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths. (0:00) Intro (3:00) What happens in your brain when asking for a raise (6:30) How negativity bias shapes interactions with authority figures (10:41) The "Bigger Better Offer" technique for breaking behavioral loops (19:22) Why avoiding conflict creates reward pathways in the brain (29:12) Training your brain to tolerate disagreement (34:52) How salience and valence affect what we perceive as conflict (40:42) The role of internal conflict in decision-making (55:08) Understanding the structure and functions of different brain regions (1:00:53) Why imagination of possibility matters for breaking rumination cycles (1:06:45) How challenging our brain creates new neural pathways (1:11:42) Five key behaviors that improve long-term brain health (1:17:03) Brain plasticity and how it changes throughout our lifetime (1:22:51) Resources for learning more about conflict resilience For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/podcast/binge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Conflict is a part of life, whether it's in our relationships, workplaces, or even global politics, yet many of us either shy away from it or escalate it, leading to stress, resentment, and division. Today on Finding Brave, behavioral neurologist Dr. Joel Salinas joins us to discuss how we can navigate disagreement with confidence and resilience—and even turn it into a powerful tool for building stronger connections. Dr. Salinas is a Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the co-author with Robert C. Bordone, of Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In. In this fascinating book, Joel and Robert blend advanced conflict management strategies with cutting-edge neuroscience to introduce a simple yet powerful three-step framework for navigating everyday conflict. In this episode, Dr. Salinas reveals how conflict resilience rather than resolution can transform the way we engage with disagreement. He also explores the impact of social isolation, our fear of discomfort, and how avoiding conflict can ultimately weaken both personal and professional relationships, all while offering practical tools to navigate tough conversations with confidence, clarity, and compassion. Whether you struggle with difficult conversations or simply want to strengthen your relationships and your communication approach, this episode is filled with valuable insights to help you approach conflict with clarity, confidence, and bravery. Tune in now to start transforming the way you engage with disagreement.   Key Highlights From This Episode: Understanding the surprising link between connection and conflict. [04:42] How social isolation and polarization contribute to conflict avoidance. [09:14] Reasons that we often see the other person as “the problem” in a conflict. [12:47] Finding a balance between setting boundaries and engaging in difficult conversations.[15:10] Insight into the three key tenets of deep listening. [18:18] An example that illustrates how to navigate everyday conflict with resilience. [22:56] How to phrase questions in a way that invites productive conversation. [26:04] The uncertainty of conflict outcomes (and why that shouldn't stop us). [28:16] Practical strategies to help you rewire your brain to handle conflict better. [31:02] Unpacking the benefits of conflict resilience and how you can start practicing today. [38:12] For More Information: Dr. Joel Salinas Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In Dr. Joel Salinas on LinkedIn Dr. Joel Salinas on Instagram Dr. Joel Salinas on YouTube Dr. Joel Salinas on X   Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Read Joel's book, Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain Learn more about the co-author of Conflict Resilience, Bob Bordone Watch examples of navigating crises in the Netflix show Madam Secretary   ——————— KATHY'S DIGITAL CAREER COACHING CLONE—‘KATHY CAPRINO AI”—IS HERE!   I'm very excited to announce the release of my new Kathy Caprino AI career and leadership coaching clone! Here's more about it! >> https://kathycaprino.com/kathyai Powered by Delphi.ai, this tool brings my career growth teachings, advice, and answers to your most pressing questions directly to you, 24/7. With a subscription, you get unlimited access and can message or audio chat with my AI clone anytime you need guidance. Drawing on my 40+ years of experience—from corporate life, therapy, and coaching to writing and speaking across 6 continents—I've trained Kathy AI using over 2.5 million words of my own content, including articles, books, podcasts, interviews, and workshops seen by over 41 million people. My mission? To make Kathy Caprino AI your trusted resource for real-time career, leadership, and personal growth strategies. Get tailored answers to your toughest career challenges and practical solutions to achieve your top goals. We offer two affordable pricing tiers, with Tier 2 unlocking great bonuses like membership to my new Career Breakthrough Community, including free coaching calls with me, exclusive discounts on my courses and programs, free LinkedIn support, and so much more. It also makes a fantastic gift for friends, family, or colleagues who want to thrive professionally! Check it out and subscribe today at kathycaprino.com/kathyai. Let me know what you think— I truly hope it becomes a game-changer for you! For other career support programs, visit my Career Help page.   ——————— Order Kathy's book The Most Powerful You today! In Australia and New Zealand, click here to order, elsewhere outside North America, click here, and in the UK, click here. If you enjoy the book, we'd so appreciate your giving the book a positive rating and review on Amazon! And check out Kathy's digital companion course The Most Powerful You, to help you close the 7 most damaging power gaps in the most effective way possible. Kathy's Power Gaps Survey, Support To Build Your LinkedIn Profile To Great Success & Other Free Resources Kathy's TEDx Talk, Time To Brave Up & Free Career Path Self-Assessment Kathy's Amazing Career Project video training course & 6 Dominant Action Styles Quiz   ——————— QUOTES: “You can't have an authentic relationship with somebody unless you're coming across and sorting through the differences we have. It's impossible to have one-to-one the exact same desires, interests, and contexts.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:07:26] “When we're in a conflict situation, – it's very common that our first reaction is to see the other person as the problem. We want to take a stance that's more about agency and empowerment, starting with what you have control over: – your own relationship with conflict.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:14:24] “A generous question begets a generous response – [Make] sure you're asking questions with the intent of understanding, not questions to harm the other person, put them down, or be overly defensive.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:22:18] “Our brains evolved to be fortune-telling machines. It takes all our past experiences and memories to make predictions – and uses those predictions to make choices and take action – to help us survive and avoid danger. Out in the Savannah, that could have been helpful, – but it can be tricky when your brain is telling you interacting with somebody across lines of difference is a threat.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:29:22] “It can be helpful to find the [bigger, better offer (BBO)]: what is the consequence or risk of me not engaging in this [difficult] conversation?” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:41:35] “Part of building this mindset and skill set is a process of reprogramming and rewiring your brain.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:44:18] “Our brains evolved to be fortune-telling machines. It takes all our past experiences and memories to make predictions – and uses those predictions to make choices and take action – to help us survive and avoid danger. Out in the Savannah, that could have been helpful, – but it can be tricky when your brain is telling you interacting with somebody across lines of difference is a threat.” — @JoelSalinasMD [0:29:22]   Watch our Finding Brave episodes on YouTube! Don't forget – you can experience each Finding Brave episode in both audio and video formats! Check out new and recent episodes on my YouTube channel at YouTube.com/kathycaprino. And please leave us a comment and a thumbs up if you like the show!

What is conflict resilience? How can we find the skills to grow from disagreement. How can you handle disagreements and differences with integrity while finding a way to create strong, deep, and lasting relationships? Join host Michael Keegan as he explores these questions and more with Robert Bordone and Dr. Joel Salinas M.D. authors of […]

What is conflict resilience? How can we find the skills to grow from disagreement.How can you handle disagreements and differences with integrity while finding away to create strong, deep, and lasting relationships? Join host MichaelKeegan as he explores these questions and more with Robert Bordone and Dr. JoelSalinas M.D. authors of Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement WithoutGiving Up or Giving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is conflict resilience? How can we find the skills to grow from disagreement. How can you handle disagreements and differences with integrity while finding a way to create strong, deep, and lasting relationships? Join host Michael Keegan as he explores these questions and more with Robert Bordone and Dr. Joel Salinas M.D. authors of Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this conversation, Dr Joel Salinas and Bob Bordone join me as we explore the often misunderstood nature of conflict in relationships. They discuss the importance of engaging with conflict rather than avoiding it, emphasizing that conflict can be a sign of love and authenticity. We also dive into the neuroscience behind conflict, the personal thresholds individuals have for conflict tolerance, and the role of identity in how we approach disagreements. We end with practical strategies for building conflict resilience, highlighting the need for awareness and gradual exposure to conflict situations. Takeaways Conflict is often misunderstood and has a bad reputation. Engaging in conflict can lead to richer relationships. Conflict is a natural part of any meaningful relationship. Our brains are wired to avoid conflict due to past experiences. Awareness of our reactions to conflict is crucial for growth. Conflict tolerance varies from person to person. Identity plays a significant role in how we handle conflict. Biological responses to conflict can hinder effective communication. Practical strategies can help individuals navigate conflict better. Embracing conflict can lead to stronger, more authentic relationships. Enjoy the show! On the Xtended version … We explore the neuroscience that is involved in us during and around conflict. Then what do we do about it. Sponsors … Paired App: Practice love every day with Paired, the #1 app for couples. Download the app at https://www.paired.com/SMR Academy: Join the Academy and go deeper. https://smr.fm/academy The post Conflict Resilience | Bob Bordone and Dr Joel Salinas #719 first appeared on Sexy Marriage Radio.

As division and polarization continue to plague our world, Father Dave welcomes Bob Bordone to discuss how conflict can be an opportunity to forge stronger relationships. Bob is Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School as well as the founder and former director of the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program. His latest book, co-authored with neurologist Dr. Joel Salinas, is called, “Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In.”  

Joel Salinas, MD is a behavioral neurologist and clinician scientist at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, founder and Chief Medical Officer at Isaac Health, and former Harvard Medical School faculty. He is the author of Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain and co-author of CONFLICT RESILIENCE: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In. For more details, visit www.conflictresiliencebook.com.

In this podcast I explore the fascinating phenomenon of synaesthesia. Using the enlightening book by Richard Cytowic and David Eagleman titled Wednesday is Indigo Blue as template, I discuss the different types and manifestations of the condition, and I highlight the current understanding of its genesis. As I review its associated advantages, such as a superior memory, I also discuss its downsides, such as physical pain. To illustrate the lived experience of synaesthesia, I deploy such historical anecdotes as that of Solomon Shereshevky as narrated by neurologist Alexander Luria in his book titled The Mind of a Mnemonist. This remarkable case showed how synaesthesia contributes to superior memory. I also use contemporary memoirs of syanesthesia, such as that of Daniel Tammett titled Born on a Blue Day, and that of physician Joel Salinas titled Mirror Touch. Other helpful sources for the podcast are Cytowic's The Man Who Tasted Shapes, and Guy Leschziner's The Man Who Tasted Words.

In this New Year's episode, host Marina Franklin introduces new friend Bob Bordone and comedian Nonye Brown-West. The group dives deep into the complexities of having difficult political conversations, especially in the post-election and current societal climate. Bob Bordone, a Harvard Law School expert in negotiation and conflict resolution, discusses his upcoming book co-authored with Dr. Joel Salinas, blending conflict management and brain science. They explore the generational divide in addressing disagreements and the rising cost of speaking up. Strategies for effective communication and the importance of conflict resilience in maintaining relationships amidst differing viewpoints are key takeaways from the discussion. Bob Bordone is an internationally-recognized expert in negotiation, mediation, consensus-building, and facilitation. A Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School, Bob founded and directed the Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program during his two decades as the Thaddeus R. Beal Clinical Professor of Law. He has trained thousands of executives, government leaders, and diplomats through Harvard's Program on Negotiation and the Harvard Negotiation Institute. Beyond Harvard, Bob serves on several boards and advisory groups focused on civil discourse and conflict resolution, bringing his expertise to organizations like Seeds of Peace and the National Institute for Civil Discourse. Author of upcoming HarperCollins book Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In Nonye Brown-West is a New York-based Nigerian-American comedian and writer. She has been featured in the Boston Globe's Rise column as a Comic to Watch. She has also appeared on Amazon, NPR, PBS, ABC, Sway In The Morning on Sirius XM, and the New York Comedy Festival. Check her schedule on nonyecomedy.com or Instagram to see when she's coming to a city near you. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

In today's episode, we dive into the science of managing conflict and building resilience with Bob Bordone and Joel Salinas, two thought leaders in negotiation and emotional intelligence. Bob Bordone, a senior fellow and former professor at Harvard Law School, is the founder of the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program. Joel Salinas, a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, brings a unique perspective from his research in brain science and social connection. Together, they coauthored Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In, a groundbreaking book that redefines how we approach conflict, not as something to fear but as a powerful opportunity for growth. Join us for an eye-opening conversation with negotiation expert Bob Bordone and neurologist Joel Salinas as they unravel the complex dynamics of conflict and emotional resilience. Why does conflict feel so uncomfortable, and how can we reframe it as an opportunity for growth? How do our brains influence our reactions in high-stakes disagreements, and what strategies can we use to navigate even the toughest conversations? Bob and Joel combine their expertise in negotiation, brain science, and emotional intelligence to offer actionable tools for managing tension, building conflict resilience, and fostering deeper connections in both personal and professional settings. Discover how mastering these skills can enhance your relationships, elevate your leadership, and transform the way you approach challenges. What to Listen For Introduction – 00:00:00 Why do they see conflict as an opportunity for growth rather than something to fear? The Science of Conflict and Emotional Triggers – 00:05:07 Why does conflict trigger the same brain mechanisms as physical pain? How can pausing and breathing help re-engage the rational parts of the brain during conflict? What are the first steps to managing emotional triggers in high-stakes disagreements? Naming the Core Issues Behind Conflict – 00:10:37 What does “naming” mean in the context of conflict resilience, and how does it transform conversations? Why is it important to identify and express the emotions underlying a disagreement? How can naming your feelings help de-escalate tension and get to the heart of the problem? The Power of Emotional Vocabulary – 00:16:53 Why do many people struggle to articulate their feelings, especially men? How does a richer emotional vocabulary lead to better conflict outcomes? What practical exercises can help you expand your emotional awareness? Balancing Self and Others in Conflict – 00:30:48 How can highly empathetic individuals set healthy boundaries without feeling guilty? What are the challenges of balancing your own needs with the needs of others? Why is it essential to prepare for how others might react when you assert your needs? Building Conflict Resilience – 00:33:29 What is conflict resilience, and how does it differ from conflict resolution? Why is resilience a prerequisite for effective negotiation and communication? How can you cultivate the mindset and skills to stay present and engaged during disagreements? Creating a Greenhouse for Conflict Resilience – 00:43:12 Why do hostile environments make it harder to engage constructively in conflict? What can leaders do to foster a culture that supports conflict resilience? How does the organization Seeds of Peace inspire young leaders to navigate conflict? Honing Curiosity and Avoiding Misjudgments – 00:47:00 How can curiosity help you uncover the true motivations behind someone's actions? Why do we often misinterpret others' identities and intentions in conflict? What techniques can help you think beyond your own perspective and stay curious longer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In by Robert Bordone, Joel Salinas M.D. Conflictresiliencebook.com Amazon.com Two former Harvard faculty—one an internationally-recognized negotiator and conflict management expert from Harvard Law, the other a leading behavioral neurologist and cutting-edge scientist from Harvard Med—join forces to introduce conflict resilience: the radical act of sitting in and growing from conflict to break the bad habits that sabotage our politics, workplaces, and most important relationships. Conflict is getting the better of us. From our homes and community centers to C-Suites and Congress, disagreements are happening everywhere, with increasing frequency, and are being treated like zero-sum games that allow little margin for error and even less room for productive conversations. This puts a tremendous and untenable strain on our most important relationships and institutions. Unable or unwilling to negotiate conflict with skill, we ignore it or avoid it for as long as possible; when we are forced to face it, we escalate everyday disagreements and temporary flare-ups as if they're life-and-death. Neither approach addresses underlying issues, promotes stronger relationships, or yields satisfying results. But there is a solution: a combined skillset and mindset that Bob Bordone calls “conflict resilience”—the ability to sit genuinely with and grow from disagreement. In this powerful, hopeful book, he and renowned neurologist Joel Salinas, MD, combine the inner mechanics of conflict—literally what's going on in our bodies and our brains during moments of distress—with a groundbreaking three-step framework for how to navigate it: NAME (& dig deep) EXPLORE (& be brave) COMMIT (& own the conflict) In a time of increasing polarization, where consensus, agreement, and problem-solving can sometimes feel elusive, Conflict Resilience provides practical solutions to a common dilemma: How do you handle disagreements and differences with integrity while finding a way to create strong, deep, and lasting relationships? Conflict Resilience is not another book about conflict resolution, nor is it about problem solving. Conflict Resilience combines practical applications of advanced conflict management and study of the human brain to teach anyone how to turn conflict and negotiation into an act of union. This book provides the most cutting-edge and scientifically-grounded tools for driving agreement when possible and for empowering you to disagree better when the differences cut deep and the relationships matter most. This is a chance to bring people together, and an invitation to radically transform how we interact with our friends and families, our co-workers, our students, and our neighbors—anyone with whom we find ourselves in disagreement.

Welcome to this special episode of the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice. For major FDA decisions in the field of neurology, we release short special episodes to offer a snapshot of the news, including the main takeaways for the clinical community, as well as highlights of the efficacy and safety profile of the agent in question. In this episode, we're covering the recent approval of donanemab as a new treatment for adults with early symptomatic Alzheimer disease (AD). Marketed as Kisunla, donanemab's approval marks the third antiamyloid therapy to get FDA greenlight for early-stage AD, following the controversial approval of aducanumab (Aduhelm; Biogen) in 2021 and lecanemab (Leqembi; Eisai) in 2023. Donanemab, administered as a 350 mg/20 mL once-monthly injection for intravenous infusion, had its approval supported by the phase 3 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ-2 trial (NCT04437511), a large-scale, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that featured 1736 patients with early-stage AD. Following the approval, NeurologyLive sat down with Joel Salinas, MD, MBA, a behavioral neurologist at NYU Langone and clinical assistant professor in the department of neurology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Salinas, who also serves as the chief medical officer at Isaac Health, discussed the positive impacts of the approval, the importance of patient selection for the medication, and how clinicians should discuss its benefits and harms to patients. In addition, he commented on how approvals like donanemab continue to carry momentum in the AD field going forward.  For more of NeurologyLive's coverage of donanemab's approval, head here: FDA Approves Eli Lilly's Donanemab for Early Symptomatic Alzheimer Disease Episode Breakdown: 2:10 – Positive downstream impacts of donanemab's approval 4:20 – Considerations and caution with prescribing donanemab 6:05 – Salinas on patient-clinician conversations about AD treatments 8:00 – Closing remarks and continued progress in AD field Thanks for listening to the NeurologyLive Mind Moments podcast. To support the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. For more neurology news and expert-driven content, visit neurologylive.com.

In this week's episode, actor Oscar Nuñez joins Brain & Life Podcast co-host Dr. Daniel Correa to discuss his family's experiences with dementia and Alzheimer's. He shares how he helps keep his loved ones safe then his wife, actress Ursula Whittaker, shares the resources and supports she has found throughout this journey. Dr. Correa is then joined by Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist, clinical assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and chief medical officer of Isaac Health in New York. Dr. Salinas shares information about all stages of memory loss and demonstrates ways to have conversations with your loved ones at all stages of their life to make plans that keep everyone safe and happy.   Additional Resources How to Keep Loved Ones with Dementia Safe from Firearms How to Talk to Loved Ones Who Have Dementia Actor Hector Elizondo Encourages Caregivers to Ask For Help Learn more about Dr. Joel Salinas What Is Alzheimer's Disease? Other Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on These Topics Finding Hope and Creating Change: Discussing Alzheimer's Advocacy with Cynthia Stone and Walt Dawson Lauren Miller Rogen on Facing a Parent's Early-Onset Alzheimer's Diagnosis Journalist Greg O'Brien on Chronicling His Life with Alzheimer's   We want to hear from you! Have a question or want to hear a topic featured on the Brain & Life Podcast? ·       Record a voicemail at 612-928-6206 ·       Email us at BLpodcast@brainandlife.org   Social Media:  Guests: Oscar Nuñez @oscarnunezla; Ursula Whittaker @ursulacwhittaker; Dr. Joel Salinas @JoelSalinasMD Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this episode Dr. Katy Peters talks with Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist, clinical assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and chief medical officer of Isaac Health in New York. Dr. Salinas explains what it's like to experience synesthesia, a rare neurologic phenomenon in which the brain processes several senses at once.   Additional Resources  Brain & Life: What is Synesthesia?   Learn more about Dr. Joel Salinas   Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain by Dr. Joel Salinas   Additional Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on Brain Wonders  Memory and Your Brain, Explained   Marilu Henner and the Mysteries of Memory   What is Agnosia and How Does it Affect the Brain's Perception?   We want to hear from you!  Have a question or want to hear a topic featured on the Brain & Life Podcast?  Record a voicemail at 612-928-6206  Email us at BLpodcast@brainandlife.org  Social Media:    Guest: Dr. Joel Salinas @JoelSalinasMD  Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD 

We're back from the summer break and start off Season 3 with one of the biggest guests yet: Dr Joel Salinas, Medical Doctor, Researcher and fellow synesthete. Enjoy this very personal conversation between Joel and Maike and don't forget to submit your "Synnie of the month" story! Connect with Dr Joel Salinas: https://joelsalinasmd.com/ Connect with Maike: www.maikepreissing.com www.synesthesia.at @synesthes_a --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maike-preissing/message

“I microstress danneggiano il nostro corpo, il nostro cervello ma noi non li registriamo completamente come una minaccia” — Joel Salinas. Cosa sono e come affrontarli?

Mirror-touch synesthesia is a sensory processing disorder where a person can feel the sensations of another. As you can imagine, this condition can be an asset for certain people, like Dr. Joel Salinas. He's a neurologist who can diagnose patients just by being able to feel their symptoms in his own body. He explains the condition and what it's like living with his empathy on overdrive. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/the-doctor-that-can-actually-feel-his-patients-pain

We've all experienced how rewarding it is to talk with a really good listener -- someone who is attentive, curious, interactive --- and how dispiriting it is to talk with people who are only half listening to what we're saying. But so-called “active listening” is way more powerful than most of us have probably imagined. Joel Salinas is a neurologist. He talks about how he discovered that active listening is actually a completely under-appreciated part of the ‘treatment' plan for some patients.  In this episode, Joel also talks about a complex neurological trait that he himself has called synesthesia, which causes him to constantly perceive each of his senses as a mix with one or more of his other senses. So he actually hears colors and tastes sounds.

Dr. Joel Salinas grew up knowing he wasn't like other kids. During medical school, he finally figured out why. Hear how the unique way he perceives the world impacts his life and his work as a neurologist.

Study presents evidence supporting the use of curcumin as alternative treatment for kidney fibrosis Zhejiang University (China), May 7, 2021 In a recent study, Chinese researchers explored the anti-fibrotic effects of curcumin, the active component of turmeric. Specifically, they looked at how curcumin affects epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. EMT refers to epithelial cells undergoing molecular changes and gaining new characteristics, such as an enhanced ability to produce ECM components. Meanwhile, the PI3K/Akt pathway is one of the major cell signaling pathways that regulate fibrosis. The researchers reported their findings in an article published in the journal Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. Curcumin is an effective alternative treatment for renal fibrosis According to several animal studies, curcumin can protect the kidneys by preventing the development of renal fibrosis. However, the mechanisms underlying this activity are still unknown. To explore these mechanisms and the anti-fibrotic activities of curcumin, the researchers treated human kidney tubular epithelial cells (HKCs) with transforming growth factor-B1 (TGF-B1), curcumin and a combination of both. TGF-B1 is a protein that’s involved in many cellular functions, including cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and death, as well as the induction of EMT. The researchers used 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to assess the effect of curcumin on cell proliferation. They also used immunocytochemistry, real-time PCR and Western blot to analyze the expression of epithelial cell markers (E-cadherin and cytokeratin), mesenchymal cell markers (vimentin, alpha smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) and fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP1)) and key proteins involved in the Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. The researchers found that low-dose curcumin (3.125 and 25?micromol/L) effectively promoted HKC proliferation. After 72 hours of incubating HKCs with TGF-B1 and curcumin, curcumin caused the cells to maintain epithelial morphology in a dose-dependent manner. It also decreased the expression of EMT-related proteins, such as vimentin, a-SMA and FSP1, and increased the expression of E-cadherin and cytokeratin. In addition, the researchers noted that curcumin reduced Akt, mTOR and P70S6K phosphorylation, which effectively suppressed the activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway in HKCs. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that curcumin is an effective alternative treatment for renal fibrosis because it can promote HKC proliferation and stop EMT by inhibiting the activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway activity.     Research reveals new approach to understanding our wellbeing Swansea University, May 12, 2021 The ability to connect and feel a sense of belonging are basic human needs but new Swansea University research has examined how these are determined by more than just our personal relationships. Research led by psychologist Professor Andrew Kemp, of the College of Human and Health Sciences, highlights the importance of taking a wider approach to wellbeing and how it can be influenced by issues such as inequality and anthropogenic climate change. Professor Kemp worked with Ph.D. student Jess Mead and consultant clinical psychologist Dr. Zoe Fisher, of the University's Health and Wellbeing Academy, on the study which presents a transdisciplinary framework to help understand and improve wellbeing. Professor Kemp said: "We define wellbeing as positive psychological experience, promoted by connections to self, community and environment, supported by healthy vagal function, all of which are impacted by socio-contextual factors that lie beyond the control of the individual." The researchers say their latest findings, which have just been published in Frontiers in Psychology, are particularly topical as society looks to recover and learn from COVID-19. He said: "Our framework has already contributed to a better understanding of how to protect wellbeing during the pandemic and has led to the development of an innovative wellbeing science intervention, targeting university students and people living with acquired brain injury." Professor Kemp added: "We feel our invited paper is timely as it not only aligns with a post-pandemic future that requires societal transformation, but it also picks up on global efforts to promote planetary wellbeing. "Globalization, urbanization and technological advancements have meant that humans have become increasingly disconnected from nature. This continues despite research showing that contact with nature improves wellbeing." The research reveals the advantages to health and wellbeing derived from connecting to oneself, others and nature and emphasizes a need for focused efforts to tackle major societal issues that affect our capacity for connection. He added: "The poorest are disproportionally impacted by major societal challenges including increasing burden of chronic disease, societal loneliness and anthropogenic climate change. "Economic inequality has adverse impacts on the entire population, not just the poor, so improving economic inequality is fundamental to improving population wellbeing." Taking a transdisciplinary approach to the topic of wellbeing is something currently reflected across Swansea University, particularly since the opening of the Morgan Advanced Studies Institute (MASI) which is dedicated to supporting transformative interdisciplinary research.   Taurine’s neuroprotective effect on cells under oxidative stress   University of Vale do Paraiba (Brazil), May 10, 2021 According to news reporting based on a preprint abstract, our journalists obtained the following quote sourced from biorxiv.org: “Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a type of dementia that affects millions of people. Although there is no cure, several study strategies seek to elucidate the mechanisms of the disease. Recent studies address the benefits of taurine. Thus, the present study aims to analyze the neuroprotective effect of taurine on human neuroblastoma, using an in vitro experimental model of oxidative stress induced by hydrocortisone in the SH-SY5Y cell line as a characteristic model of AD. “The violet crystal assay was used for cell viability and the evaluation of cell morphology was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After pretreatment with taurine, the SH-SY5Y cell showed an improvement in cell viability in the face of oxidative stress and improved cell morphology. Thus, the treatment presented a neuroprotective effect.” This preprint has not been peer-reviewed.     Efficacy of magnesium oxide and sodium valproate in prevention of migraine headache: a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover study Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (Iran), May 4, 2021 According to news originating from Sari, Iran, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Migraine is a disabling disorder that affects the quality of life of patients. Different medications have been used in prevention of migraine headache.” Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, “In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of magnesium oxide in comparison with valproate sodium in preventing migraine headache attacks. This is a single-center, randomized, controlled, crossover trial which is double-blind, 24-week, 2-sequence, 2-period, 2-treatment. After patient randomization into two sequences, the intervention group received magnesium oxide 500 mg and the control group received valproate sodium 400 mg two tablets each day (every 12 h) for 8 weeks. The primary efficacy variable was reduction in the number of migraine attacks and number of days with moderate or severe headache and hours with headache (duration) per month in the final of 8 weeks in comparison with baseline. Seventy patients were randomized and seven dropped out, leaving 63 for analysis. In an intention-to-treat analysis, 31 patients were in group 1 (magnesium oxide-valproate) and 32 patients were in group 2 (valproate-magnesium oxide). The mean number of migraine attacks and days per month was 1.72 +/- 1.18 and 2.09 +/- 1.70, with a mean duration of 15.50 +/- 21.80 h in magnesium group and 1.27 +/- 1.27 and 2.22 +/- 1.96, with a mean duration 13.38 +/- 14.10 in valproate group.” According to the news editors, the research concluded: “This study has shown that 500 mg magnesium oxide appears to be effective in migraine prophylaxis similar to valproate sodium without significant adverse effect.” This research has been peer-reviewed       Vitamin D and calcium from food is associated with lower risk of early menopause University of Massachusetts, May 10, 2021 A new study led by epidemiologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's School of Public Health and Health Sciences suggests that high intake of dietary vitamin D and calcium may be modestly associated with lower risk of early menopause, the cessation of ovarian function before age 45. Early menopause affects about 10 percent of women and is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and early cognitive decline. Epidemiology doctoral candidate Alexandra Purdue-Smithe and her advisor Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, with colleagues at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and Harvard Medical School, evaluated how vitamin D and calcium intake is associated with incidence of early menopause in the prospective Nurses' Health Study II. The study population includes 116,430 female U.S. registered nurses who were 25-42 years old when they responded to a baseline questionnaire. Diet was assessed five times over the 20-year study, allowing the researchers to capture changes in food and nutrient intake over time, Purdue-Smithe notes. Participants in the study contributed more than 1 million person-years of follow-up, during which 2,041 women experienced early menopause. The authors report the hazard ratio for early menopause comparing the highest vs. lowest dietary vitamin D intake groups was 0.83 (95% confidence interval = 0.72-0.95) and for dietary calcium 0.87 (95% CI=0.76-1.00). Details of the study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, appear in the current early online edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Purdue-Smithe says, "Laboratory evidence relating vitamin D to some of the hormonal mechanisms involved in ovarian aging provided the foundation for our hypothesis. However, to our knowledge, no prior epidemiologic studies have explicitly evaluated how vitamin D and calcium intake may be related to risk of early menopause. We found that after adjusting for a variety of different factors, vitamin D from food sources, such as fortified dairy and fatty fish, was associated with a 17 percent lower risk of early menopause when comparing the highest intake group to the lowest intake group." Because higher intake of vitamin D and calcium from foods may simply act as a marker for better nutrition and overall health, Purdue-Smithe says, the researchers took into account other factors such as intake of vegetable protein and alcohol, as well as body mass index and smoking. She adds, "The large size of this study allowed us to consider a variety of potential correlates of a healthy lifestyle that might explain our findings; however, adjusting for these factors made almost no difference in our estimates." The nutritional and reproductive epidemiologist notes that "in addition to placing women at higher risk of adverse future health outcomes, early menopause is also problematic as women are increasingly delaying childbearing into their later reproductive years. Fertility declines drastically during the 10 years leading up to menopause, so early menopause can have profound psychological and financial implications for couples who are unable to conceive as they wish. As such, it is important to identify modifiable risk factors for early menopause, such as diet." Because associations were stronger for vitamin D and calcium from dairy sources than from non-dairy food sources in the study, and Purdue-Smithe plans further analyses investigating individual dairy foods and other components of dairy and how they may be associated with early menopause.     High levels of exercise linked to 9 years of less aging at the cellular level Brigham Young University, May 10, 2021 Despite their best efforts, no scientist has ever come close to stopping humans from aging. Even anti-aging creams can't stop Old Father Time. But new research from Brigham Young University reveals you may be able to slow one type of aging--the kind that happens inside your cells. As long as you're willing to sweat. "Just because you're 40, doesn't mean you're 40 years old biologically," Tucker said. "We all know people that seem younger than their actual age. The more physically active we are, the less biological aging takes place in our bodies." The study, published in the medical journal Preventive Medicine, finds that people who have consistently high levels of physical activity have significantly longer telomeres than those who have sedentary lifestyles, as well as those who are moderately active. Telomeres are the protein endcaps of our chromosomes. They're like our biological clock and they're extremely correlated with age; each time a cell replicates, we lose a tiny bit of the endcaps. Therefore, the older we get, the shorter our telomeres. Exercise science professor Larry Tucker found adults with high physical activity levels have telomeres with a biological aging advantage of nine years over those who are sedentary, and a seven-year advantage compared to those who are moderately active. To be highly active, women had to engage in 30 minutes of jogging per day (40 minutes for men), five days a week. "If you want to see a real difference in slowing your biological aging, it appears that a little exercise won't cut it," Tucker said. "You have to work out regularly at high levels." Tucker analyzed data from 5,823 adults who participated in the CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, one of the few indexes that includes telomere length values for study subjects. The index also includes data for 62 activities participants might have engaged in over a 30-day window, which Tucker analyzed to calculate levels of physical activity. His study found the shortest telomeres came from sedentary people--they had 140 base pairs of DNA less at the end of their telomeres than highly active folks. Surprisingly, he also found there was no significant difference in telomere length between those with low or moderate physical activity and the sedentary people. Although the exact mechanism for how exercise preserves telomeres is unknown, Tucker said it may be tied to inflammation and oxidative stress. Previous studies have shown telomere length is closely related to those two factors and it is known that exercise can suppress inflammation and oxidative stress over time. "We know that regular physical activity helps to reduce mortality and prolong life, and now we know part of that advantage may be due to the preservation of telomeres," Tucker said.       How isolation affects memory and thinking skills Harvard University, May 2021 We've all been isolated from many family members and friends during the pandemic. If you've been having a harder time remembering things or processing information since the pandemic began, it could be an isolation side effect. "It's something I'm seeing clinically. Some people were okay before the pandemic and now they're having faster cognitive decline," says Dr. Joel Salinas, a behavioral neurologist and faculty member of the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies. Dr. Salinas says we don't have a lot of evidence yet to back up a clear association between pandemic lockdowns and a change in memory or thinking skills. One small 2020 study found that 60% of people with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease experienced worsening cognition and delirium during the lockdown. But the link between isolation and cognitive decline is more than speculation. Isolation risks Isolation (being cut off from social contact) was a problem for older adults long before the pandemic began. Life circumstances — such as living far from friends and family, losing a partner, or being unable to drive — often create unanticipated situations in which we find ourselves isolated. That sometimes puts health in jeopardy. "In studies of people, isolation is associated with an increased risk for dementia, although it's unclear how high the risk is," Dr. Salinas says. "In lab animals, isolation has been shown to cause brain shrinkage and the kind of brain changes you'd see in Alzheimer's disease — reduced brain cell connections and reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is important for the formation, connection, and repair of brain cells." Isolation is also associated with elevated risks for heart attack, stroke, chronic inflammation, depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and loneliness. People who feel lonely (disconnected from others) have been shown to have faster rates of cognitive decline than people who don't feel lonely. Loneliness is also tied to risks of losing the ability to take care of yourself and early death. What's the link? We don't exactly know why being isolated sometimes leads to cognitive decline. Possibilities include a lack of access to crucial resources or help with daily needs a decrease in stimulating mental activity that can come from social interaction a reduction in social support. "Having access to others for emotional support or listening to you seems to have a protective brain health effect — increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and reduced risks for dementia or stroke," Dr. Salinas says. In the pandemic, you may also be experiencing high stress levels, which can affect your brain's processing skills. "We're not good at being focused when there's danger," Dr. Salinas says. "It's the 'fight or flight' mode all the time." If family members are noticing that you seem to be experiencing cognitive changes, Dr. Salinas says it could be a new problem — or it could be that you're spending more time together and they're picking up on changes that were already occurring before the pandemic.

Synesthesia is a neurological condition where one sensory experience gets combined with another, meaning someone might hear sounds when eat, or see colors when they listen to music. So what exactly is synesthesia? And what’s it like to go through life with these unique sensory connections? Featuring the voices of neuroscientist Dr. Richard Cytowic and five people with synesthesia. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. To get your 20K referral link and earn rewards, visit 20k.org/refer. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Get your first month of hair loss treatment for free at keeps.com/20k. Check out Dr. Richard Cytowic’s work at cytowic.net. Check out Joel Salinas' book Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/synesthesia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Joel Salinas his editorial's definition of social health and the evidence demonstrating an association between social health and brain health. 

In the first segment, Dr. Jason Crowell talks with Dr. Joel Salinas about his editorial on neurologists’ duty to treat social ills. In the second part of the podcast, Dr. Teshamae Monteith talks with Dr. Andrew Hershey about his practice guideline update summary paper in Neurology® on pharmacologic treatment for pediatric migraine prevention. Disclosures can be found at Neurology.org. CME Opportunity: Listen to this week’s Neurology Podcast and earn 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits™ by answering the multiple-choice questions in the online Podcast quiz.

Dr. Joel Salinas has mirror touch synesthesia, a condition involving cross-wiring in the brain. The result is that visual stimuli prompt a response in his touch system. He literally feels it when people experience pain. Salinas discusses how this strange condition works and how he is able to use it in diagnosis.

It’s one of the most fascinating conditions of the human mind. For some otherwise ordinary people, a rare glitch in the brain can unlock extraordinary abilities. Imagine being able to experience the physical sensations of the person next to you, even detecting their emotions, the good and the bad. That’s exactly what Dr. Joel Salinas can do.  He’s a doctor who can feel his patient’s pain, and he was born with the neurological condition Mirror-touch Synesthesia. In this interview, Dr. Salinas sits down with Dr. Oz to reveal what he calls “the secret life of the brain.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Joel Salinas, from OpsRamp, joins us this week to talk about his encounters when it comes to customer's pain points and the way IT Operations is evolving and how OpsRamp is filling the gaps.

It’s one of the most fascinating conditions of the human mind. For some otherwise ordinary people, a rare glitch in the brain can unlock extraordinary abilities. Imagine being able to experience the physical sensations of the person next to you, even detecting their emotions, the good and the bad. That’s exactly what Dr. Joel Salinas can do.  He’s a doctor who can feel his patient’s pain, and he was born with the neurological condition Mirror-touch Synesthesia. In this interview, Dr. Salinas sits down with Dr. Oz to reveal what he calls “the secret life of the brain.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

  "Mirror Touch" As a  medical school student, Joel Salinas was obsessed with the human brain. But as soon as he got to work, his own senses began to turn on him. Joel Salinas is a neurologist at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology. He is the author of Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain "What Accent?" When Ellen Spencer was released from the hospital after a mysterious stroke-like episode her voice would never be the same again. "The Bat Boy and the Pine Tar Game" Every baseball fan has heard of the superstar hitter George Brett and his infamous Pine Tar Game…but have you heard of the bat boy’s version? Season 9 Episode 24

We Can Talk About Podcast Season 1, Episode 19 Joel Salinas, The Doctor Who Can Feel Your Pain

Sometimes you meet people and your assumptions are truly tested. This podcast features the story of Sue Sušnik – she feels people’s emotions, literally by laying her hands on their bodies… Her goal to help people regain balance in their lives by realising what’s holding them back. She uses what she describes as a kind of emotional plumbing to get people back in touch with their true selves. Sound like hocus pocus? Well, listen and find out what happened when Here in Holland went to investigate. Here in Holland email: hereinholland@gmail.com Subscribe in iTunes or Android app of choice. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/hereinholland)

Can this doctor feel your pain? The brothers have a conversation with special guest Dr. Joel Salinas, a Harvard-trained researcher and neurologist, who has mirror-touch synesthesia. His book Mirror Touch: Notes from a Doctor Who Can Feel Your Pain is now available.  Go to https://joelsalinasmd.com/book/ to grab your copy today!

Dr. Joel Salinas. professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, has mirror touch synesthesia, a perceptual condition that affects his senses to the point where he experiences the painful physical sensations of his patients.  Joelsalinamd.com  Sponsored by Drdrew.com and Heal.com    

Challenging our understanding of what it means to be human, Joel Salinas, a Harvard-trained researcher and neurologist at Massachusetts General, shares his experiences with mirror-touch synesthesia, a rare and only recently identified neurological trait that causes him to feel the emotional and physical experiences of other people. Salinas refers to his condition as a kind of compulsory mindfulness, a heightened empathic ability that offers him invaluable clues about how to see and live the world through other people’s perspectives. To learn more about Provocative Enlightenment Radio, go to http://www.provocativeenlightenment.com

Dr. Joel Salinas has mirror touch synesthesia, a condition involving cross-wiring in the brain that allows him to feel it when people experience pain.

Joel Salinas M.D. joins the Mindrolling podcast to talk about his book, “Mirror Touch,” and the phenomena of mirror-touch synesthesia. Raghu and Joel discuss this fascinating phenomenon which blurs the boundaries between the self and others. They talk about the importance of inner work and how different spiritual practices affect our physiology.

The commitment required for medical school is well known.  But what do you find out about this commitment out only after you've begun?  Should you stop untying your shoes to save time?  Will your ethics be challenged during medical school?  Is it best to invest in a crockpot?  Will you doubt your choice to come to medical school?  Find out how Lisa Wehr, Kaci McCleary, and Nick Sparr have dealt with these inevitable questions on this week's show.  And we announce our voicemail contest, in which you, dear listener, can win a Starbucks gift card. Also, Nick prepares for RAGBRAI, we explore the fascinating topic of what the word ‘chili' means, the sixth annual comics and medicine convention, we have doctor-related TV shows to recommend, and how scientists are creating little autistic brains from skin cells. We need validation. Leave a review: iTunes | Stitcher Graphic Medicine RAGBRAI A Young Doctor's Notebook Doc Martin Miniature brains grown from skin cells ‘provide autism insights Six Lessons About Mirror-Touch Synesthesia From Dr. Joel Salinas Your Hosts This Week: [huge_it_gallery id=”41″] Listen to more great shows for medical students on The Vocalis Podcast Network. The opinions expressed in this feed and podcast are not those of the University of Iowa or the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine; nor do they reflect the views of anyone other than the people who expressed them.  If you have feedback on anything you hear on the show, positive or not, let us know.…