Doctors and nutritionists commonly stress the importance of a balanced diet and exercise for a healthy body, but more research is supporting the importance of a healthy brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, as many as 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia that involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language and affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.  

As legend has it, the Fountain of Youth is a spring that restores youth to anyone who drinks from it. Because the fountain is a bit difficult to find, many people have settled for beauty treatments such as lotions, serums and plastic surgery. However, what’s arguably more important than looking young is keeping the human mind young, and beverage-makers are creating drinks that help do just that — and they’re not nearly as difficult to find.

Around age 30, adults begin to experience changes in brain function as part of natural development, according to Chesterfield, Mo.-based Nawgan Products LLC. Some effects are mild, such as occasionally misplacing everyday items, but others can be more significant. Although Nawgan functional beverages do not claim to reverse the brain aging process, they were developed specifically to support cognitive function over time, the company says. And when it comes to formulating a functional beverage, it’s not a job just anyone can do.