Saturday I referenced this story that said, “Having a big belly in your 40s can boost your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia decades later, a new study suggests.” As I said then, “I’m about one trip to Dunkin Donuts away from the funny farm.” As with many studies, you just have to wait a little while and another study will come along to bale you out. Today; the good news.

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

[...]

“Caffeine appears to block several of the disruptive effects of cholesterol that make the blood-brain barrier leaky,” said Dr Jonathan Geiger, who led the study.

“High levels of cholesterol are a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, perhaps by compromising the protective nature of the blood brain barrier.

“Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug and its ability to stabilise the blood brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders.”

The question of course is to what degree do the two offset one another.