The view of Alzheimer's disease as a form of diabetes - and thus largely as avoidable as diabetes - continues to gather strength: "The relationship between insulin and brain disease has been under scrutiny since doctors found evidence that the hormone was active there. The latest [study] looked at the effects of insulin on proteins called ADDLs, which build up in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and cause damage. ... Sensitivity to insulin can decline with aging, which presents a novel risk factor for Alzheimer's disease - our results demonstrate that bolstering insulin signalling can protect neurons from harm. Recognising that Alzheimer's disease is a type of brain diabetes points the way to novel discoveries that may finally result in disease-modifying treatments for this devastating disease. ... People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's. It is well known that insulin affects how the brain works, and this research adds more evidence to the possibility that Alzheimer's could be a type of brain diabetes."

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7866022.stm