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It's important to remember that no food alone is a magic bullet and overall good nutrition is a key factor. Here are the five foods that scientists say offer the biggest brain boost:

Fish
Hands down, fish is the superstar of brain foods. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, most importantly DHA, have been shown in one study after another to boost learning and memory. In a 2007 study of Norwegian seniors, reported in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, fish eaters scored two to three times better on cognitive tests than people who don't eat fish. Why is fish so fundamental? DHA makes up a large proportion of our brains. It's used in the production of neurotransmitters that move signals from one cell to another, and it helps 'grease' the connections so the information moves faster. Scientists are also exploring whether other factors in fish, like niacin (which lowers cholesterol that can block blood and oxygen to the brain) or selenium (a powerful antioxidant), may also have a role in the food's brain-boosting powers.

Blueberries
Oxidation is a byproduct of cellular damage - basically, a rusting of the cells that increases as we age. It's believed to be one of the main causes of cognitive decline. Scientists say fruits and vegetables help maintain brain performance, thanks in part to their antioxidant properties. That's where blueberries come in. When Tufts University researchers compared dozens of fruits and vegetables, blueberries scored among the highest in terms of antioxidant capability. And a growing body of research on mice supports blueberries as one of nature's most effective brain boosters. In tests against other antioxidant-rich foods, animals fed blueberries outshined the others in balance and coordination. Blueberries have also been shown to aid in the formation of new neurons, reduce inflammation in the brain and increase activity of enzymes that convert short-term memory to long-term. While much of this fruit's power likely comes from anthocyanins, the pigments that give them their blue hue, other phytochemicals, like ellagic acid, may also play a role.

Grape Juice
"Grape juice may have an extremely beneficial effect for the brain," says Dr. Giulio Pasinetti, director of the new Center of Excellence for Research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Alzheimer's Disease at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. His team is working on identifying the compounds that give these drinks a leg up in terms of memory, cognition and dementia prevention. They've identified two front-runners that are found in high concentrations in grape skins: flavonoids, which give red wine and Concord grape juice their deep color, and resveratrol, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Another compound, proanthocyanidin, found in grape seeds, also has tremendous potential.

Walnuts
A 2007 study by the US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center at Tufts University found that animals fed walnuts showed a reversal in age-related motor and cognitive decline. The researchers believe walnuts, which have the highest levels of omega-3s of any nut, may provide the best evidence that plant-based fats (in this case, alpha lipoic acid) have a similar effect on cognition to those found in fish. In another 2007 study, the gallic and ellagic acids in walnut extract were shown to help break down the brain plaque associated with Alzheimer's, as well as inhibit the depletion of acetylcholine, a brain chemical vital for learning and memory.

Coffee and Tea
In a 2007 French study, published in the journal Neurology, women 65 and older who drank three cups of coffee or tea a day had significantly less verbal decline over four years than those who drank less. A 2006 study on elderly men showed a benefit from coffee on memory. One explanation, of course, is caffeine is a stimulant that boosts alertness and mood. In mice it has also been shown to limit the buildup of Alzheimer's-related brain plaque. But caffeine may not be the only factor. Both coffee and tea are brimming with antioxidants and other potentially helpful chemicals. Coffee, for instance, boasts more than 1000 natural compounds. And green tea, which Pasinetti says may also have a very good impact on cognition, contains powerful flavonoid antioxidants called catechins, but only a low dose of caffeine.