The brains (and heart) behind Better Brain

Meet Dr. Julie, your friendly neighborhood neuroscientist

Meet Dr. Julie Fratantoni

Hi! I'm Julie, the author of Better Brain.

I am a cognitive neuroscientist obsessed with brain health and wellness. I help people build brain healthy habits.

Recently, I left my job at a university to start my own business and focus on science communication full time.

I love learning and especially love sharing what I’m learning - hence why I started this substack.

Everyone needs to know.

The human lifespan has doubled, but the brainspan has not. Who wants to live to be 100 if your brain starts declining at 60?

The field of neuroscience has uncovered so much in the last few decades about neuroplasticity and the brain’s capacity to change- it’s incredibly hopeful!

But not everyone has access to this information. I think everyone deserves to know and I’ll tell anyone who will listen.

My mission is to make neuroscience & brain health resources accessible and easy to understand.

My heart

My mom has early stage Alzheimer’s disease.

If I can help just one person prevent this heartbreaking disease, it will all be worth it.

Prevention is the best strategy we have.

• I believe in a holistic approach (see Top 10 Ways to Take Care of Your Brain)

• I believe that lifestyle matters more than genetics. New research shows nearly half of dementia cases are preventable.

• I believe it’s time for a brain health revolution when it comes to care, education, and policy - who’s with me?

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Ok, your turn

I’ll share a bit more about myself in a moment, but now I want to get to know you!

Your answers will help me tailor this newsletter to serve you better.

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Thank you for being a part of Better Brain!

My heart is FULL of gratitude to have the opportunity to build a vibrant community with you. There is truly unlimited potential for both the brain and what we can accomplish together.

Sending warmth and wellness,

Julie

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Bonus facts about me

I wanted to be a writer as a little kid, so this substack is a full circle dream come true.

I’m an introvert. Enneagram 1. Woman of faith. A dog mom to the most charismatic and lovable german/aussie mix Kai. Certified yoga instructor. Artist/painter.

Rapid fire things I love: cooking new recipes, walks with Kai, farmers markets, being active outside (pickleball, tennis, hiking), going to bed early, being barefoot in the grass.

Rapid fire dislikes: small talk, goat cheese, being put on the spot, leaf blowers, meetings that could have been emails.

What exactly do I do? Develop programs that teach proactive lifestyle strategies that can improve brain performance and strengthen and protect against decline. Create brain health content for social platforms. Consulting for up-and-coming companies in the cognitive care and prevention space.

Professional background: My PhD is in cognitive neuroscience. I am also a licensed speech language pathologist. My zone of genius is the overlap between three buckets: 1) research/neuroscience, 2) science communication/marketing, 3) behavioral science/UX.

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