Here's good news for coffee lovers. A new study has found that women who drink three or more cups per day (or six cups of tea) are 30 per cent less likely to suffer memory decline at age 65 than those who sip one cup or less daily. And it gets better.

Women over 80 who drank three or more cups of coffee a day were 70 per cent less likely to develop memory decline than those who drank one cup or less.

Why? Caffeine is a cognitive stimulant and it seems it may help reduce levels of beta-amyloid, a protein that accumulates in the brain of people with Alzheimer's disease, says study author Dr Karen Ritchie, from the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research.

The research didn't find a similar effect in men, although other research on the topic has found benefits for men.

When size matters

Being equal partners in life may be a beautiful thing but not when you eat the same amount of food as your husband. Men have more muscle mass than women (even when they weigh the same) and can therefore consume more kilojoules without gaining weight. That extra muscle also helps them burn more energy, even at rest.

Research shows that the longer people are married, the more kilos they (particularly women) pack on. And, for many people, each wedding anniversary gives assurance that all is well and so couples tend to become more relaxed about their appearance.

However, weight gain can cause all sorts of health problems so it makes sense to keep it in check. A good start is to keep an eye on the size of your servings. Also, try to eat more vegies and half the amount of carbohydrates such as potato, rice and pasta.