Daily caffeine 'protects brain'

This popped up in my morning reads, and I couldn't help but think of you Ashley.

Coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body, research suggests. -- BBC News

I've also heard of other studies that indicate a neuroprotective role for caffeine in ischemic attacks (restriction of blood flow in the brain, for example - due to stroke or cardiac arrest).

Of course, these claims should all be taken with a grain of salt. Even if they do stand, a lot more work will be required to show what sort of net effect caffeine has on the brain and body.

Caffeine molecule painting by Ali, at Ali's Art Adventures.