dr. ashton, dr. besser at the table. more on their story in a moment. that "jinx" bombshell of robert durst. the real estate heir made famous in "the jinx" now awaiting trial in los angeles for the 2000 murder of his close friend susan berman. dan abrams joins us. it shows an interview with him just after his arrest in 2015. in it he claims he was on drugs during the filming of "the jinx." let's take a look. >> fill a whole long weekend when i did the interviews for "the jinx," i was on some meth and when i looked at the little pieces of it i was going like, this and like that and it was -- it should have been obvious. >> so he says he was on meth. why did the l.a. district attorney's office release that tape? >> it came up in the context of a court filing. basically the prosecutors are arguing that this tape should be admitted into evidence. the defense is saying that it was improper. that it wasn't a voluntary statement and for now prosecutors are saying to the judge, can you review all of the evidence to determine what might be admissible and what no

dr. jen ashton is back.f the forgetfulness and absent-mindedness, but that's not necessarily what this is focused on. >> no, so this study, it was a very small study but very interesting findings. they compared brain scans of women before pregnancy and before giving birth and afterwards. and they found some significant and surprising differences. they actually found changes in parts of the structure and size of the brain. >> wow. >> the theory here is that those changes occurred to help streamline the mom's brain to prepare for more nurturing, vigilance, and teaching. very much analogous to these beautiful orchids here in that they're still orchids, but you have buds that then change to flowers that are still flowers. the brain is obviously still the brain, but there were changes in things that they could actually see on the scan. >> are they permanent changes? >> they don't know yet. a lot of them -- they fold them two years out. some of them did go back but some changed for the better, i think, so it's a v

dr. jen ashton. dr. ashton, let me start with you.ken heart syndrome this morning with mom's death coming so soon after her daughter's. is that a valid medical phenomenon? >> it is a real medical condition. i think it is possible figuratively and literally to die of a broken heart. it doesn't seem to be the case for debbie reynolds, but there have been cases of spouses dying hours or days apart from each other. the loss of a child is known to be one of life's greatest stressors, whether that child is 6 or 60. so when you're talking about an elderly person with known pre-existing medical conditions, certainly, the loss of a child can be a massive emotional and physical event. >> let's bring you in, jess. mother and daughter, they were estranged for about a decade but had so many personal tragedies between the two of them. do you think that gave them an unbreakable bond and ultimately brought them back together? >> ultimately, it did. and i think that carrie fisher went through, you know, as she spoke about so publicly, a lot of addicti

dr. general ashton and kate coyne. dr. e of death is unexplained. they're attributing it to heart failure. organ system by organ similar. they'll do a toxicology. but really the big push today is to do something a molecular autopsy. if he had an hereditary gene. >> you called george michael for years. late '90s when he was outed, how tough of a time was that for him. >> a lot of gay entertainment figures. for george michael, at the peak of his career he was a heartthrob as a heterosexual, "i want your sex." screaming teenage girls, i was one of them. it had been rumored, yes, but to have publicly confirm that, yes, he was a gay man, he had to somehow negate the songs that he had written that had been perceived written about a woman. ultimately he did grapple with it. it had an impact on his career. he never reached the same height that he did with faith. by the same token he was unfailingly brave and courageous in the face of that incident. he was very clear that his songs were always written from the heart. i can tell you

dr. ashton. we'll talk more about this with dr. l of us. >>> you can see more about george michael's life tonight right here 10:00 eastern. >>> what authorities are calling a christmas miracle. that family we've been talking about stranded in the snow while on vacation at the grand canyon rescued after a life-threatening ordeal and brave mother's harrowing 26-mile journey for help. they spoke with abc news and matt gutman joins us from los angeles with the story for us this morning. good morning, matt. >> reporter: good morning, paula. this is a story of two parents incredible will to survive and save their kid. you know, it's amazing how reliant we are on these things, the gps did get the klein family car stuck in a giant snowdrift and after 45 miles of walking combined, the filmiest of cell phone signals saved them from what rescuers say was certain death. on christmas eve karen klein, her husband eric and their 10-year-old son isaac set out on a family trip to the grand canyon. their gps serving as the guide. >> we were kind of t

dr. ashton breaks down the research right here. ? wonderful christmas time ? >>> we're ready to party. kate mckinnon and olivia munn here live, and she's saying -- ? [ cheers and applause ] >> good morning. welcome to tuesday here in times square. a little early here this morning with our wonderful audience. thanks for coming in, guys. >> get ready to laugh because olivia munn, you know her so well, michael. [ cheers and applause ] she is backstage ready to come out in a little bit. >> giving ha wave too. >>> speaking of the holidays, we're revealing the hottest kid tested approved toys for the season. >> yeah, looking at one right here. >> what is that? >> a furreal friend. hundreds of kids got a chance to play with the hottest toys. this guy is a furreal friend and he made the top of the list and he does things -- i don't know. you rub his belly. he eats stuff. he won't do anything for me but kids, he breathes fire, it's amazing. we'll tell you about the list >> as soon as you turn away. >> he has not stopped until we're on camera. >> that's true. >> let's go to amy with the morning

dr. jen ashton and "people's" kate coyne. dr. attributing it to heart failure. meaning the heart just stopped. in an autopsy, organ system by organ system. they'll do a toxicology. but really the big push today is to do something a molecular autopsy. they'll take tissue samples and do genetic analysis and to see if he had an hereditary gene. >> and that's a molecular autopsy. you covered george michael for years. late '90s when he was outed, how tough of a time was that for him? >> it was unprecedented. a lot of gay entertainment figures. for george michael, at the peak of his career he was a heartthrob as a heterosexual, "i want your sex." screaming teenage girls, i was one of them. i was absolutely one of them. to then, have it shown to the world, that, you know, it had been rumored, yes, but to have publicly confirm that, yes, he was a gay man, he had to face the idea that it somehow negates the songs that he had written that had been perceived written about a woman. ultimately he did grapple with it. it was an issue. it had a

dr. ashton will weigh in on this debate.'m not sure if those researchers were all female or male. >> it doesn't matter. this is clearly a concrete study and findings will live on forever. >>> ever have an accident with your iphone just as a new model debuts. >> columbia business school researchers call it the upgrade effect and found users get more careless when there is a new model available. after all if the phone is broken then you have to buy a new one, right? no longer have to feel guilty about spending that extra money. >> makes sense. >>> for some golfing is year-round sport even when the fairway and greens are covered in ice. but this guy may want to wait until the weather warms up next time. his friends caught this on camera. talk about epic fail. swing and a miss and an icy bath. >> oh, man, so not only laughing at him. they're going to post this on instagram so that we can all laugh at him. however, if you're keeping score at home, since he never hit the ball, that swing doesn't count as a shot. >> he's totally go

dr. ashton breaks down the research right here. >>> we're ready to party. [ cheers and applause ] >> good morning. welcome to tuesday here in times square. our wonderful audience, thanks for coming in, guys. >> olivia munn, you know her all so well, michael. [ cheers and applause ] >> she is backstage ready to come out in a little bit. >> giving us that presidential wave. >>> we're revealing the hottest kid tested approved toys for the season. >> looking at it right here. >> what is that. >> a fur real friend. hundreds got a chance to play with the hottest toys. this guy is a fur real friend and made the top of the list and does things -- i don't know, you rub his belly. he eats stuff. he won't do anything for me but kids, he breathes fire, it's amazing. >> as soon as you turn away. >> he has not stopped until we're on camera. >> that's true. >> amy has the morning rundown. >>> the big story, los angeles on high alert because of what's being called a specific threat against the city's subway. the fbi is investigating the credibility of that threat and matt

dr. jennifer ashton joins us now. is this true? >> this is legit.s, some historical perspective the others have shown a bump in heart attacks and deaths during the christmastime and the american heart association wanted to find out is it climate related. >> is it food and drink related. >> or is it holiday? >> just dealing with the stress of the holidays. >> guess what, it might be all of those things but this was done in new zealand. they did find that people died at a greater rate of cardiac-related out of hospital deaths between the dates of december 25th and january 7th and that is something to keep on our radar. >> we just offered up our suggestion about what the causes could be. what does the study show. >> they don't know, of course. first they were just accumulating the data and making the observation but some potential theories. is there a delay in seeking care, let's say you're traveling. you don't know where the nearest hospital is or what to do when having symptoms so a delay with seeking care, stress with the holidays and i would add yo

dr. ashton is here with what you need to know. ashton is here with what you need to know. only thing that really entertains us. i'm gonna use this picture on sketchbook, and i'm going to draw mustaches on you all. using the pen instead of fingers, it just feels more comfortable for me. be like, boop! it's gone. i like that only i can get into it and that it recognizes my fingerprint. our old tablet couldn't do that. it kind of makes you feel like you're your own person, which is a rare opportunity in my family. (laughter) psh psh lunch is ready! campbell's spider-man soups. made for real, real life. thanks mom argh, my throat! sfx: coughing ricola dual action. with a soothing syrup center to relieve both coughs and sore throats. ♪ riiicolaaa! come on r2! we gotta go! ♪ woohoo! the best place in the galaxy for everything star wars. walmart. >>> we're back with that scene in utah. >>> we're back with that scene in utah. a young boy dangling helplessly from a ski lift after he got stuck. while trying to get off the thing, and the good samaritans who leapt into action. >> repo

dr. jen ashton joins us now with some of the science on that and dr., is this a real thing. >> it is a real condition called broken heart syndrome but this refers to a sudden stunning of the heart muscle in someone without hardening of their arteries usually in response to a severe emotional stress, those people for the most part recover. this is very different than a stroke, but there are some studies that show a higher death rate in parents who have lost children even adult children and that really points to just how devastating physically and emotionally the loss of a child can be. >> dr. jen, thank you. >>> a very special look at this mother/daughter life and legacy on "20/20" tomorrow night at 10:00 eastern. >>> the major winter storm sweeping across 15 states and the damaging december tornado outside of atlanta. take a look. homeowners there in jefferson coun downed trees and power lines after fierce winds took some off guard. heavy snow the story in the northeast. stretcher travel in new england. adrienne bankert in the thick of it. >> reporter:

dr. jen ashton.guys. >> important to know you are board certified in obesity medicine. talk about the significance of oprah's weight loss. >> let's do simple math. in the world of obesity medicine the gold standard is the loss of just 5% to 10% of your starting body weight so while people who are overweight and obese want to lose a lot more than that, just 5% has been shown to do some dramatic positive things internally for meth benefits. talk about 40 pounds unless you started at 800 pounds that is significant weight loss. >> and she's ken the weight off a little more than a year. but what is the likelihood that oprah or anyone else can keep it off for good. >> you say likelihood. in the world of medicine and nutrition when you talk about statistics to be clear, we do that because that's what data gives us but for you you're not going to be 84% successful. it's going to be all or none so you have to take that with a grain of salt. good news/bad news here. the good news is that weight loss experience

dr. ashton.he salt in the demo, but i'm going to explain how salt works. a little science and chemistry. >>> coming up, brett eldredge is performing a classic off his new hit holiday album. we're right back. ♪ let it snow let it snow let it snow ♪ >>> good morning to you. today, the two suspects in a stabbing at a hayward target on christmas eve with expects to appear in court a 22-year-old and 25-year-old are accused of stabbing this man, tyrone griffin, to death. the 36 yaefrld griffin leaves behind four children. he went to the store to get a last minute christmas gift. over to alexis. >> good morning. we starred off rough with the serious crash on 280 in san jose. that's long gone. wide open here, that northbound side norm crawling at this time, but not today. our drive time, under half an hour. tracy to dublin. northbound 85 between 101 and cupertino at 16 minutes. zero really can be a hero.ds) k;,t get zero down, zero deposit, zero due at signing, and zero first month's payment on select vo

dr. ashton, i have to interrupt. we have some breaking news on elevatorgate.ed himself from the elevator. [ cheers and applause ] and we have proof of it. he's finally out of there and he's going to be -- there he is. there he is. he is going to be live here on "gma" after a very quick break. what is going on there? >> oh, my gosh. they're making out. >> that is weird. >> all right. we'll be right back. >>> good morning, i'm natasha zouves from abc 7 mornings. at least two bay area cities are trying to figure out what caused a rotten egg or sulfur smell over the last couple of days. we were in richmond where the mayor said there have been more than 100 complaints about the bad smell. we told you on abc 7 mornings yesterday that the odor has drifted into san francisco. so far no one is taking responsibility. >>> let's get over to alexis smith with traffic. >> and it is quiet all morning. we've had a few minor issues come and go in the last 20 30 minutes but the main story is it is wide open. no bay area metering lights. and all of the drive times in the green.

dr. jen ashton.s. >> important to know you are board certified in obesity medicine. talk about the significance of oprah's weight loss. >> let's do simple math. in the world of obesity medicine the gold standard is the loss of just 5% to 10% of your starting body weight, so while people who are overweight and obese want to lose a lot more than that, just 5% has been shown to do some dramatic positive things internally for meth benefits. talk about 40 pounds unless you started at 800 pounds that is significant weight loss. 800 pounds that is significant weight loss. benefits.'s ken the weight off talk about 40 pounds unless you started at 800 pounds that is significant weight loss. benefi. talk about 40 pounds unless you started at 800 pounds that is significant weight loss. h benef. talk about 40 pounds unless you started at 800 pounds that is significant weight loss. e benef. talk about 40 pounds unless you started at 800 pounds that is significant weight loss. a benef. talk about 40 pounds unless y

dr. jen ashton. great to have you here. flu and a lot have it but many consider it to be a bad cold. >> that's one of the biggest myths i hear year after year. this is completely different than the common cold virus. the rhinovirus is one of the culprits. flue is caused by the influenza virus. symptoms are different. when you have the true flu you are talking severe headache, severe chest pain and body ache, going on to develop a secondary bacterial infection which can hit the lungs in the form of pneumonia or the bloodstream in the form of sepsis. life-threatening. >> my son had the stomach flu and people asked if he had his flu shot. completely different. >> that's completely different. >> the fear that getting the flu shot will actually cause the flu. >> complete a implausible. t it does not contain live virus so people get the flu after that. it can take about two weeks to develop full immune protection. >> i have the feeling the guys will take tear chances and if it's not 100% effective than why bother. >> do not do it

dr. ashton, i have to interrupt. we have breaking news on elevatorgate.s freed himself from the elevator. [ cheers and applause ] and we have proof of it. he's finally out of there and he's going to be -- there he is. there he is. he is going to be live here on "gma" after a very quick break. what is going on there? >> oh, my gosh. they're making out. >> that is weird. >> we'll be right back. >> good monk i'm suzanne kennedy with a look at top stories. they're trying to find a man who shot and killed a man on buyer street capital heights. that man was found unresponse every with a gunshot wound to his upper body and died lighter at the hospital. washington redskins are anglel angleling for a spot in the playoffs sunday 4:25 and redskins need to win to get n the only way they don't get in is if they lose or if green bay packers and detroit lions tie. >> we want to get an update on weather now. here's molly cochran. >> the main story are gusty winds today. some wind gusts into 20s already and we can reach 0 miles an hour by this afternoo afternoon. it's rea

dr. jen ashton joins us now. jen, this is fascinating but we have some examples.re there dangers in this treatment? perspective. in a hospital setting we use salt aerosolized in nebulizer treatments for breathing and hyper tonic saline we use. what there isn't is good data on salt chambers yet but i think in terms of risk/benefit, the risks are probably pretty low. irritation to breathing is a possibility, of course, it can irritate your eyes or your skin if you're sitting on a block of this and then cost. it's going to vary place to place. >> as a doctor would you recommend this type of therapy and treatment? >> gosh, well, not -- >> put you on the spot. >> not at the expense of something that's been subbed to rigorous scientific study and not instead of so if it's an either/or, no, because we need more data. if it's in addition to something or adding it to a wellness program everyone can consider it. i'll admit, i'm going to try it. i'm a sucker for marketing and i will try it. >> testimonials got you. >> i'll sit on this block of salt. >> she will do that right

dr. ashton, i have to interrupt. we have breaking news on elevatorgate.reed himself from the elevator. [ cheers and applause ] and we have proof of it. he's finally out of there and he's going to be -- there he is. there he is. he is going to be live here on "gma" after a very quick break. what is going on there? >> oh, my gosh. they're making out. >> that is weird. >> we'll be right back. >> good morning, i'm tamala edwards, 8:27 friday, december 30. let's get a check on the traffic, bearable along 42 no issues when 42 was blocked by the ac expressway. there's a crash in trenton along 129 southbound at cast street taking out the left lane where mcdonalds is on the northbound side. crossing the river, montgomery township we have a tractor-trailer accident county line road by business 202 doylestown road by the pep boys. police on the scene, traffic is getting by without too much of an issue. coming southbound on the boulevard watch out for a crash at 5th street in the outer drive. the ice along waverly road and ice at red leaf road has been taken care of.

dr. jen ashton will be joining us live in studio. also in politics, the big political headline over the weekend, donald trump announcing that he will, indeed, the trump foundation. also why a top staffer is backing out of the trump administration just days after he was appointed. >>> plus the best deals on this day after christmas. where to shop, what to look for, and how to smoothly return your unwanted gifts. becky is here with all of your holiday trips and tricks. what say you? are you in for some more shopping or have you had enough? because there's deals out there. >> never enough. time to snap up the deals. we're ready to go. >> we have our shopping shoes on. >> thanks so much, paula. see you soon. >>> all right. are you guys ready to bring in the new year with some new laws? yep. coming up, there are a few you need to know about including about schools and guns. >>> plus an overwhelming show of support this christmas. why a hayward family who lost their home has a new reason to smile this morning. >>> and as you get your day i

dr. jen ashton. here and, unfortunately, we're talking about the flu and a lot have it but many consider it to be a bad cold. >> that's one of the biggest myths i hear year after year. from patients. this is completely different than the common cold virus. the rhinovirus is one of the culprits. in causing the common cold. flu is caused by the influenza virus. and the symptoms are really different, paula. when you have the true flu, you are talking severe headache, severe chest pain, severe body aches, high fever, you don't see those with a common cold and then there's a risk of going on to develop a secondary bacterial infection which can hit the lungs in the form of pneumonia or the bloodstream in the form of sepsis. life-threatening. >> there's also the misconception, my son had the stomach flu this week and people asked if he had his flu shot. not the same thing. that's not what the flu shot -- >> completely different. that's completely different. stomach, nausea, that's completely different. >> t

dr. jen ashton joining us now with more on this. you have our attention, so many people take statins. how big could this be? >> there are about 5 million americans right now living with about 34 million americans take the statin drug to lower their cholesterol, primarily to protect their heart. this study found an association between those and with a lowered risk of alzheimer's in some groups by as much as 10%. this varied based on the dose, type and race, gender and ethnicity of those taking it and the theory involved cholesterol levels and evidence that that is linked to those plaques that form in the brain. >> knowing this information now do you think we'll see a big uptick in the use of statins? >> probably not yet. it's not quite ready for prime time. it needs more research. you always need to consider risk versus benefit versus alternatives. and some cases, of course, cost. and really, you have to remember there are more things that affect the cholesterol level than just diet. although that's very important and there are other things that cause alzheimer's disease. age, inflamma

ashton strobelt by visiting their website. y24way y5yy >>> are you getting what you need from your health plan? changes. >> here to help us navigate through some big decisions is dr. john roades who is a senior medical director of the mountain west region for southwest medical. good morning. >> good morning. >> tell us about yourself and your medical background. >> i'm senior medical director, as you said, for southwest medical, so i oversee all the adult medical in southern nevada, plus in arizona and utah. >> this is the final week for medicare open enrollment, right? ends december 7th. >> yes. >> generally for those who might not be familiar what is open enrollment and why it's so important to seniors this time of year. >> medicare open enrollment started october 15th, and it ends december 7th, so we're hitting the deadlines. those who have not made a decision have a chance to. open enrollment is a chance for see if they feel like they're getting the value they should. and if they are, great. if they're not, it's a chance to be able to look at other options. >> and it is so important to revisit it, right? prescription drug plans change and coverage changes, an