Can your diet make you smarter? You bet. Research shows that what you eat is one of the most powerful influences on everyday brain skills, plus it may stave off Alzheimer and other forms of dementia, says Cynthia Green, PhD, founder and director of the Memory Enhancement Program at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and author of Prevention new Brainpower Game Plan book.

The program is based in part on rounding out your meals with key nutrients that (along with exercise and daily brain games) keep brain cells healthy and prevent brain-damaging inflammation.

our memory, attention span, and ability to learn will benefit from the healthful foods you l be choosing,?says Green.

See the top foods and beverages that can make you smarter

Seafood like salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, and sardines are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, powerful and versatile nutrients that are essential for a healthy mind. About 40% of the fatty acids in brain cell membranes are DHA, one of the main omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil. Experts believe it probably necessary for transmitting signals between brain cells.