Brain Exercises for Cognitive Longevity with Julie Fratantoni, PhD

Week of April 4, 2026

1. Brain Exercises for Cognitive Longevity: Part I Emotion Regulation
2. Brain Exercises for Cognitive Longevity: Part II Mental Energy
3. Brain Exercises for Cognitive Longevity: Part III Critical Thinking

This three part series will give you brain exercises that strengthen memory and improve lifelong brain performance. You will learn:
•  Brain exercises you can do every day that build cognitive reserve (and it’s not Sudoku or Wordle).
•  The simple habits that move the needle the most for memory and cognitive performance.
•  Key lifestyle factors that can reduce risk for cognitive decline.
•  The truth about brain games and crossword puzzles and if you need to worry about keeping your streak on Duolingo.
•  Common habits to avoid that drain mental energy and age your brain faster.
•  And more!

4. The Neuroscience of Building Habits
What makes habits stick? This talk breaks down the neuroscience behind habit formation, drawing on what we know about the brain’s reward system, neuroplasticity, and nervous system regulation. You’ll learn how habits are encoded in neural circuits, why willpower alone isn’t enough, and how factors like environment, emotion, and repetition shape long-term behavior change. You will leave with science-backed strategies to build sustainable habits, break unhelpful patterns, and design routines that work with the brain rather than against it.

Julie Fratantoni, PhD, is a cognitive neuroscientist who is passionate about helping people become proactive about their brain health. Prior to starting her own science communication company, Julie spent five years at The University of Texas at Dallas Center for BrainHealth where she launched and led a large scale longitudinal study seeking to define, measure, and improve brain performance across the lifespan. Her research experience also includes initiatives for women’s brain health, sleep, and kindness. She is a skilled science communicator who regularly appears on Good Morning Texas with brain tips and neuroscience insights. Julie also authors a weekly Substack newsletter called Better Brain, that breaks down neuroscience and has over 175,000 subscribers. She received her PhD from UT Dallas and is also a licensed speech language pathologist, and trained in biofeedback and mindfulness techniques. Her clinical work has focused on facilitating high performance brain training for corporate executives, veterans, and athletes.