Published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the report announced that taking fish oil – which is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids – may lower reaction times and prevent feelings of fatigue or exhaustion.

The team determined as much by offering a group of 18- to 35-year-old participants fish oil supplements over a 12-week period. Those who took them tended to display improved neural health.

What is behind this effect? Scientists found that omega-3s appeared to increase vascular flow to the brain, giving gray matter more blood with which to oxygenate itself.

Omega-3s are also known to have antioxidant effects, meaning they can reduce inflammation and prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals. Nutritional supplements that contain krill oil, fish oil or flaxseed oil can deliver a potent dose of omega-3s.

These fatty acids may keep the brain functioning in tip-top shape longer than it might without the help of vitamin supplements.

Besides reducing the risk of neural tube defects in newborns, folate may also improve a child's later cognitive health, according to a study appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Specifically, scientists determined that children born to mothers who took folate over the four weeks before and eight weeks after conception had one-half the risk of mild cognitive impairment, compared to those kids whose mothers took no vitamin supplements.

This is in addition to the standard health benefits attributed to regular folate supplementation. Researchers expressed enthusiasm over their findings.

"If in future research this relationship were shown to be causal, it would have important implications for understanding the biological processes underlying disrupted neurodevelopment…and for policies of folic acid supplementation for women of reproductive age," said Ezra Susser, the study's senior author.

For those interested in maintaining good health in any stage of life, it may be helpful to look into the vitamin supplement options available in the grocery store and online.

Another answer comes courtesy of a professor at the University of Toronto, Scarborough. Chemist Xiao-an Zhang recently performed an experiment with researchers at Duke University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to see how zinc helps maintain brain health.

To do so, the team had to create a chemical called ZX1, which binds to zinc and prevents it from moving between neurons. Researchers found that, without the element at its disposal, the hippocampus – an area of the brain responsible for memory – has trouble strengthening the connections between its neurons.

This phenomenon appears to impair memory, the group concluded.

The Office of Dietary Supplements states that zinc is necessary for all sorts of cell-level reactions. In particular, it helps support immune health, protein creation, cellular division and a sharp sense of taste and smell, the agency explains.

Research published in the journal Neurology announced that elderly adults who are vitamin B12-deficient have a higher risk of brain shrinkage and poor memory skills. The authors based these conclusions on an investigation conducted among more than 120 residents of the south end of Chicago.

The team measured each participant's blood levels of vitamin B12, then used MRI scanning to measure volunteers' brain volumes four and a half years later.

All told, those who had the most bloodborne biomarkers for B12 deficiency displayed smaller brain volumes and scored worse on cognitive memory tests. Researchers concluded that the nutrient appears to be associated with the preservation of good brain health later in life.

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology monitored how zinc flows through the brain's nerve cells and determined that this element plays a vital role in speeding neural processing.

The team first became curious about this phenomenon after noticing that many consumers buy zinc supplements to improve mood or blunt nervous tension. They were aware that special organelles in nerve cells store up zinc for impulse transmission, but what happens when these cells have too little zinc?

After conducted tests on mice, the group concluded that the element enhances neural communication and appears to play a role in memory formation.

"Carefully controlling zinc's regulation of communication between these nerve cells is critical to…formation of memories," lead author James McNamara concluded. He added that too much zinc might be harmful, so consumers should take modest amounts.

A study appearing in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease determined that the polyphenols found in grape seed may prevent the creation of excess beta-amyloid peptides in the brain. These amino acids have been found to impact cognitive function with age. By heading off their formation, individuals might be able to support healthy cognition and memory capacity, scientists believe.

The group, composed of researchers from the University of Minnesota, noted that early intervention would likely be key to ensuring that grape seed polyphenols have an appreciable effect.

"Since naturally occurring polyphenols are also generally commercially available as nutritional supplements and have negligible adverse events even after prolonged periods of treatment, this new finding holds significant promise as a preventive method or treatment," they concluded.

Early symptoms differ by individual, as well as day-to-day. Some signs may be so subtle that they may go unnoticed by family or friends, while others will become increasingly obvious over time. To help determine if you or a loved one has early warning signs of memory loss, the Alzheimer’s Association has developed the following checklist of 10 common symptoms:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Problems with language
• Disorientation to time and place
• Poor or decreased judgment
• Problems with abstract thinking
• Misplacing things
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Changes in personality
• Loss of initiative

But there are effective supplements to help preserve your memory for decades to come. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a naturally occurring phospholipid nutrient. It is essential for optimum cell functions in your body, but it is most concentrated in the brain, making up nearly 70 percent of our brain cell membranes. 

As medical research suggests, PS supplementation can help individuals maintain membrane integrity and youthful synaptic activity. By raising the PS supply to the brain, you can boost brain power, mood, learning ability, the ability to tolerate stress and much more.

In a study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, the team stated that a specific form of acupressure called Jin Shin appears to increase memory in patients with non-life-threatening brain injuries.

To test the efficacy of acupressure, scientists divided participants into two groups, one of which received traditional Jin Shin as it has been practiced since the 1970s. The other group also received what appeared to be acupressure, though it did not focus on any of the accepted pressure points.

Those who received Jin Shin tended to be able to repeat back longer strings of random numbers, as well as to be able to perform well on a standardized psychological test, compared to their peers.

Researchers concluded that acupressure may be a viable treatment option for veterans returning from combat, should they have mild brain trauma.

Numerous studies have already shown that acupressure can be an effective treatment for nausea and morning sickness.

A report from the Institute of Medicine found that loading up on nutrients gives the brain plenty of the molecular building blocks it need to begin repairing neural damage caused by TBIs. The DOD has recommended that all military personnel who have sustained these injuries should be put on such a diet, which can reduce inflammation.

In particular, researchers pointed to a number of nutrients that are most important for keeping swelling at bay and giving the brain sustenance. These included the vitamin B choline, creatine, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids.

Outside the realm of TBIs, individuals who want to give their bodies an adequate vitamin load may consider taking a daily dietary supplement after meals.

Most people may not even realize that they are deficient in key vitamins and minerals until it’s too late. In fact, new research from medical professionals indicates that increased vitamin D intake, especially in the form of vitamin D3, may contribute to improved bone strength, according to the Council.

So how can individuals help support optimal bone mineral levels and enhance their bone strength, while preventing this from becoming a continuing cause of their deteriorating health? Most experts agree that adding more vitamin D to the diet through foods and/or supplements can greatly increase the chances of improving bone strength.

Individuals who believe they may be vitamin D deficient can request blood tests that will determine how much is needed to regulate their individual levels. When it comes to vitamin D, a person shouldn’t have too much or too little in their body. “Here is a situation where getting the supplement amount ‘just right’ counts,” stated Kate Lindemann, Ph.D., a retired college professor who actually enhanced her bone density through various natural methods and supplementation.

The Council states that vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, is the most potent form of the nutrient and has strong health-promoting properties.