1053. A Day in the Life: What's It Really Like to Be a Neuroscientist?

“In the very early stages of my mother’s Parkinson’s condition, when I was 18, I went with her to a doctor’s appointment to get a thorough diagnosis. After he shared his thoughts with us, I asked him if there was something we could do, anything we could do, to improve her symptoms and the way she was living, such as some kind of exercise or dietary options. He quickly replied that there were none: ‘It’s just how the disease manifests and there is absolutely nothing you can do.’ My instincts, even at that young age, with modest knowledge of health and nutrition, told me that could not be true. That doctor’s visit was one of the earliest catalysts that propelled me into doing a deep dive at UCLA, where I got my PhD, into neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative disorders because I wanted to empower patients, their families and physicians with knowledge that would profoundly improve the quality of their lives on every level.”

Dr. Nicole Tetreault is a neuroscientist, writer, meditation teacher, and speaker. She specializes in neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative disorders and translates the promise of neuroscience and positive psychology for individuals to live the best quality of life. She is dedicated to enhancing lives through a holistic approach that integrates development of positive thought processes, cultivation of self-compassion and awareness of bodily sensations with our environment. She is the author of “Insight Into a Bright Mind,” which explores groundbreaking research examining experiences of unique, creative, and intense brains through interviews, storytelling, and literary science.