Episode #94 How are you using your brain? Dr Julie Fratantoni, Center for Brain Health at University of Texas, Dallas.

Have you wondered what your brain's potential can be?  Imagine working out the brain health of the globe.Dr Julie Fratantoni, Center for Brain Health at University of Texas, Dallas is the Head of Operations, for the Brain Health Project, a 10-year longitudinal study to help people see the potential of the brain. They have developed a brain health index. Cognitive, social interactions, well-being and daily life. Study has already identified 3 important factors for brain health.ClarityConnectednessEmotional balance. Everything is bi-directional. Social connectedness- if you have few social connections, then this affects brain health. You against you. How can you be better tomorrow? Questions for the brain health project are to define, measure, and maintain and improve brain health across the life span.During her clinical fellowship, she discovered brain health through cognitive training and understanding the potential of neuroplasticity. It is the functional changes that shocked her.More efficientLess stressedMore calmGreater ability of showing up to achieveIt is a generation shift with access to new information and understanding about how the brain works. How is brain health viewed by the general public? We have established a new category of health. Rather than just mental health and problems. People are not worried about their brain. When young, wait until they are older. We often assume your brain is there for you. We only notice when things go wrong.  The pandemic has opened the window to see that the brain is not always there for us.  The brain health project is about teaching cognitive strategies, here are some questions to ask yourself?Within day to day- how can you shift the way you are taking in information. Homing in on the executive functions. The frontal lobe- organisation, planning, judgement, saying no to yourself, innovation and creativity, perspective taking. Skills that can be taught and strengthened. How am I going to approach the situation and what is my mental energy reserves. Learn morehttps://platform.thebrainhealthproject.org/login Support the showSubscribe and support the podcast at https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/newLearn more at www.profselenabartlett.com