Drinking two to three cups of strong coffee a day can reduce the risk of dementia and slow cognitive decline, a study has found.

Using data from over 130,000 patients from the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which covered a 40-year period, experts from Harvard, MIT and Mass General Brigham in the US, found that those with the highest intake of caffeinated drinks had an 18 per cent lower risk of dementia.

This was compared with those who reported little or no caffeine consumption.

Lettuce is a leafy vegetable, famous for giving salads their base. There are multiple types of lettuce, and they all share the scientific name Lactuca sativa. It is a side dish, a main meal, a burger topper or a sandwich wrap.

The word courtship comes from two words — court and ship. Court refers to a trial or evaluation. Ship implies boundaries, much like a township defines the limits of a town.

Courtship, therefore, is the proper approach for evaluating a person’s true character. It is the process of developing a closer relationship with someone of the opposite sex with a view toward possible marriage. 

Every year in March, the International Women’s Day (IWD) is observed. This year, March 8 is the day earmarked for the celebration of the great achievements of our daughters and Mothers.

Over the years, I have been consistent with my coverage of the IWD in this column. But before I delve into what we should expect this year, let me share with you some of the interesting themes that I have covered here so far, to reflect on the great achievements of our mothers, sisters and daughters.

For decades, Mrs Catherine Nutsugah carried one clear message into villages, classrooms and community meetings across Ghana and Africa: Send the girl child to school.

At a time when many families still believed educating boys was a better investment, she stood before parents and challenged that thinking.

Teenage pregnancy, poverty and early marriage were cutting short the dreams of many girls. She and her team refused to watch silently.

The day our son, Animuonyam, was born remains one of the most memorable days of my life. I can recall that day so well because his birth birthed a world of joy inside me.

Peering into his beautiful face, I knew I had a new responsibility to raise this young man to be a better version of myself.

Parenthood is protection. Every parent who wants the best for their children must guard them from all the vices of society. Like a wall, parents must intentionally shield their wards from evil influence. One such influence is a paedophile.

Another International Mother Language Day has been celebrated with well-intended messages purported to spur indigenous societies to honour their respective worldview through their indigenous languages.

Undoubtedly, a nation’s sense of dignity can be measured by the value it places on its indigenous language. Bangladesh remains a constant monument of dignity through its unshakeable resolution to uphold its language.

Dignifying Bangladeshi nationals for asserting their dignity through their own tongue simultaneously heaps coals of shame on other nationals who betray their individual and collective identities by shunning their mother tongue. 

Whoever started the trend of promoting branded Ghana jerseys as Independence Day wear this year seems to have succeeded, as the jerseys have now become hot commodities on the market.

Carrots might get all the credit when it comes to eye health, but your options for supporting your vision are far more vast than the classic orange veggie. 

A well-balanced diet, rich in specific vitamins and antioxidants, can make a difference in maintaining sharp vision and protecting against age-related eye issues.

Before we dive in, though, it’s important to know that there isn’t a single “magic” food that guarantees you’ll have perfect vision. 

The father of a teenage boy accused of killing four people in a shooting rampage at a high school in the US state of Georgia has been found guilty of murder, child cruelty and other charges.

Colin Gray, 55, pleaded not guilty to all 29 charges against him stemming from the 2024 attack that left two teachers and two students dead in Winder, Georgia.

His prosecution marks the third time that a US parent has been held criminally responsible for a mass shooting carried out by their child, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

Almost every Black woman or girl has, at some point, purchased hair extensions for box braids, boho braids, twists or faux locs.

For years, pregnancy loss in many hospitals across the country has been handled clinically but with limited emotional follow-up. A mother loses her baby, condolences are offered, discharge papers are signed, and life is expected to continue.

But at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, that narrative is changing through the introduction of the ‘Rainbow Clinic’  — a structured bereavement care system designed to support women and families after pregnancy loss.

“Pregnancy is not a disease, but when a loss happens, the emotional and psychological impact can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, in many cases, we say ‘sorry’ and move on. 

Many people believe peanut is not as nutritionally valuable as true nuts such as almonds, walnuts or cashews.

But actually, peanuts have many of the same health benefits as the more expensive nuts and should not be overlooked as a nutritious food.

Peanuts are a good source of healthful fats, protein and fibre.

In the military world, intelligence is as critical as weaponry. The size of what you know is as important as the size of what you have.

Indeed, your intelligence is counted as part of your resources because what an enemy is ignorant of can be the weapon one can exploit. Great intelligence is knowing what others do not.

The art of war is strategy. Nations win wars because of strategies. The best strategy almost always wins. Imagine a military that publicises its strategy before it even goes to war. 

In today’s digital age, screens are almost impossible to avoid. From laptops and tablets to smartphones and televisions, many people spend hours each day staring at digital devices.

While technology has made work and communication easier, constant screen exposure often leads to red, irritated and dry eyes.

This condition, commonly referred to as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome, is becoming increasingly widespread. 

Dear Mirror Lawyer, I trade at a market in Kumasi. A few weeks ago, after closing my stall for the day, I was walking to the bus station when a group of police officers stopped me.

They accused me of loitering and demanded to search my belongings. Despite my cooperation, the situation quickly escalated. 

One of the officers became aggressive, pushing me against a wall and roughly searching my pockets. I felt humiliated and frightened. 

A GROUP of traditional leaders in the Ho municipality, Queens of Legacy, has expressed grave concern over the rising cases of HIV among teenagers in the municipality recently, saying their future looks very bleak if the trend continues.

The President of Legacy Queens, Mama Atrato II, has, therefore, called on parents to sit up to their responsibilities and team up with school authorities to investigate the cause and help curb the trend as a matter of priority.

An Akan axiom says “Sika ye mogya,” meaning money is blood. This shows that money is essential in all areas of life, especially in marriage, which is one of the most important human investments. 

Money is one thing that never seems to be enough. Couples argue over money regardless of how much they earn. 

There is always one excuse or another for not taking the family out on a travel/tour trip. It is either there is never any time quite right enough or there isn’t enough money.

These are very convenient excuses and they are enough to postpone this much-needed family adventure. 

Same relevance works other social groups when they decide to plan a leisure tour, it improves mood, bonding and productivity. 

President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted the crucial role of nationalism, collective resolve and unity of purpose in advancing the country’s development during his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Accra on Friday, February 27.

Reflecting on a recent diplomatic and cultural incident in Zambia, he emphasized how unified action and a shared national identity turned a potential embarrassment into an opportunity for international goodwill.

A man in the Wassa East District in the Western Region is appealing for urgent financial assistance after his wife delivered quadruplets.

He explained that medical scans initially indicated a triplet pregnancy, but doctors delivered four babies through a Caesarean section. 

The newborns are currently in incubators, resulting in rising and unforeseen medical expenses.