Brain power is the thing that makes your brain work properly; helping your brain to fire up quickly and efficiently as it works through complex problems and issues effectively in just a matter of seconds. However, some of us find that our brain power isn’t as great as it could be, so what do we do? Well, we try to find ways of getting a little extra brain power… beyond that of the usual crossword teasers that are so common today. There have been many studies over the years that have explored the many ways to help improve the function of the brain, things such as nutrient supplements that help with memory to exercises that help to broaden the mind and brain power. Who doesn’t want to be smarter, think faster, solve problems more easily and more?

In the article “5 Easy Ways To Boost Brain Power (Without Doing Crosswords)” the ways in which to increase brain power is talked about in real solutions that can be used to get your brain working that much quicker and that much more effective. Dr. Natasha Turner of Blisstree, a site that helps to promote better health and wellness, explores what you can do to make your brain work better from simple memory recall to the ability to learn at an accelerated rate, making it a real possibility to boost your brain power and start thinking and learning in ways that will make you feel like a true intellect.

The latest findings from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project at Boston Children's Hospital show that the brain structure of children subjected to neglectful conditions are markedly underdeveloped, and the children show increased developmental disorders such as repetitive rocking, banging their heads against things and much lower IQ and language skills.

The good news is that there is increasing evidence that the damage from such conditions can be undone through improved environmental conditions and socialization opportunities.

According to UNICEF, there are at least 8 million children throughout the world living in institutions and suffering extreme social and physical neglect.

That's 8 million too many.

Four independent studies on sleep patterns and disturbances have shown evidence that poor quality sleeping habits may be affecting your mental acuity.

Changes in your circadian rhythm can potentially result in rapid mental deterioration, cognitive decline, and dementia, which can cause tremendous problems in your waking lives without proper medical attention.

While the studies have shown a correlation between unhealthy sleep habits and a decline in one's mental abilities over time, the findings do not show a cause and effect scenario.

That being said, the real correlation may be the reverse: mental decline over time may well be the cause of sleep disorders and drastic changes in our sleeping habits.

If you're not getting a good night's rest and find yourself feeling confused, foggy, or just not quite together, you may want to visit your nearest sleep clinic.

According to new research conducted by Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Boston, diets high in saturated fats, which are typically found in red meat, may accelerate brain aging more rapidly than other types of fats. Conversely, research suggests that consumption of monounsaturated fats may serve to actually slow the brain's aging process.

Published in the Annals of Neurology, the study utilized dietary surveys from approximately 6,200 women over age 65. As a follow up to the survey, the same women were interviewed five years later and asked to take cognitive functionality tests. The results indicated that those with diets highest in saturated fat had the worst scores related to reasoning and memory, while those with the highest monounsaturated fat intake had the best cognition test scores overall. Those who consumed mainly polyunsaturated fats, which are typically found in corn and vegetable oil, fell somewhere in between.

Those with diets high in saturated fat even appeared to show cognitive functioning ability of a theoretical brain age 5 to 6 years older than their biological age. Researchers suggest that one reason for the apparent difference could be that saturated fats may promote inflammation and damage to the arteries.

Cognitive Supplement