5 Things: Coffee is Key; Cats Regard Humans as Big Cats

1. Coffee a Day Boosts Memory: That, at least, is what researchers from the John Hopkins University have found, according to the results of a study just published in Nature Neuroscience. The results showed that the people who took the caffeine pill were better than their non-caffeinated counterparts at identifying the images that were similar but not the same as the ones they had seen the previous day. The research is important because it shows “for the first time a specific effect of caffeine on reducing forgetting over 24 hours."

2. Good News/Bad News on Green Tea: LA Times Reports that while green tea has many health benefits  – natural antioxidants called flavonoids that appear to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and various types of cancer, including cancers of the breast, lung and skin, a new report in the journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics flags a possible problem with green tea: It may prevent the body from absorbing a drug used to treat high blood pressure, probably due to one of the antioxidants for which it is prized.

3. DIY Dementia Test: American researchers have developed a simple, self-administered, 15-minute test that they claim will help identify the early signs of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The exam, which can be completed at home, by hand or online, tests language ability, reasoning, problem-solving skills and memory. Results can then be shared with doctors to help spot early symptoms of cognitive issues. Take the test. Read more here.

4. You're Just Another Big Cat: Biologist John Bradshaw spent 30 years studying cat behavior and concluded that they regard their owners as big versions of themselves. You can read more here.

5. Teen Birth Rate Dropping Due to '16 and Pregnant?' Interesting thesis explored in this NPR story, as to the correlation between a drop in U.S. teen births and the rise of teen-targeted programming like "16 and Pregnant."  Read more here.