Want to improve your brain health via diet? Eat more turmeric! Curcumin can increase levels of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neutrophic Factor), a kind of growth hormone that helps the brain form new connections. By helping your brain to grow, it can help prevent brain diseases and age-related decreases in brain function. It's possible that it could also help improve memory and make you smarter, though this has not yet been studied in detail.