Data from a recent study of Alzheimer's disease (AD) transgenic mice suggests that daily moderate consumption of caffeine may improve memory function in already impaired mice.

After consuming the human equivalent of about 5 cups of coffee per day, mice with AD exhibited superior memory function compared to mice with AD who had not consumed the caffeine. In addition, mice that had consumed to caffeine showed a slowing of brain deteriorization including lessoned decomposition of the hippocampus and of the entorhinal cortex. Caffeine consumption was also found to improve physiological functions that are key in brian function including processes involved in glycogen synthesis.

The results of the study were published this month by the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. The findings add to a growing body of research showing that caffeine consumption is beneficial for brian function in later life.

Farrah Fawcett, the blonde-maned actress whose best-selling poster and "Charlie's Angels" stardom made her one of the most famous faces in the world, died Thursday. She was 62.

Fawcett's death was confirmed by Paul Bloch, one of her representatives at Rogers and Cowan, an entertainment public relations firm.

Fawcett, who checked into a hospital in early April, had been battling anal cancer on and off for three years.

Bloch told CNN that Ryan O'Neal, Fawcett's romantic partner since the mid-1980s, and her friend Alana Stewart were with Fawcett at Saint John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, when she died.

"Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world," O'Neal said in a written statement.

He had recently told People magazine that the sex symbol was declining.

 

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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Ed McMahon, the loyal "Tonight Show" sidekick who bolstered boss Johnny Carson with guffaws and a resounding "H-e-e-e-e-e-ere's Johnny!" for 30 years, died early Tuesday. He was 86.

McMahon died shortly after midnight at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his wife, Pam, and other family members, said his publicist, Howard Bragman.

Bragman didn't give a cause of death, saying only that McMahon had a "multitude of health problems the last few months."

McMahon had bone cancer, among other illnesses, according to a person close to the entertainer, and had been hospitalized for several weeks. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.

McMahon broke his neck in a fall in March 2007, and battled a series of financial problems as his injuries preventing him from working.

McMahon and Carson had worked together for nearly five years on the game show "Who Do You Trust? " when Carson took over NBC's late-night show from Jack Paar in October 1962. McMahon played second banana on "Tonight" until Carson retired in 1992.

"You can't imagine hooking up with a guy like Carson," McMahon said an interview with The Associated Press in 1993. "There's the old phrase, hook your wagon to a star. I hitched my wagon to a great star."

McMahon, who never failed to laugh at his Carson's quips, kept his supporting role in perspective.

"It's like a pitcher who has a favorite catcher," he said. "The pitcher gets a little help from the catcher, but the pitcher's got to throw the ball. Well, Johnny Carson had to throw the ball, but I could give him a little help."

 

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The mayor of Providence wants to slap a $150-per-semester tax on the 25,000 full-time students at Brown University and three other private colleges in the city, saying they use resources and should help ease the burden on struggling taxpayers.

Mayor David Cicilline said the fee would raise between $6 million and $8 million a year for the city, which is facing a $17 million deficit.

If enacted, it would apparently be the first time a U.S. city has directly taxed students just for being enrolled.
 

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This is the most un-shocking news ever: Clay Aiken is gay.

I'm sure there isn't a single person out there who is surprised by this.  I mean, really, it was obvious.  I don't know if he was in denial or what, but he would never admit his sexuality.  That was the most rediculous part of this whole thing.

 

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Let me just say that I'm so stoked that the Celtics won the championship.

Graduation was on Friday.  If I hadn't taken a year off after undergrad, I'd be graduated right now.  Damn.

Oh well, I do really like it here.

Celtics beat the Pistons to go up 2-1 in the series!  I know I only jumped on the Celtics bandwagon this year when they actually started to be good, but I've really enjoyed watching them play this year.  If they could make it to the finals and then beat the Lakers or the Spurs, that would be sooooo incredible!

Just heard an awesome cover of the Verve Pipe's "The Freshmen," sang by Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo.  Very impressive.  He's a good singer.