Alzheimer's: Type 3 Diabetes?

I don't usually include information regarding health care, but some of you might remember that the first incarnation of my website had a page devoted to health and prescription drug information.  But, this article, available online on the Canadian version of Healthzone, is so compelling, I thought I would share it.

Some experts are now calling  Alzheimer's, "Type 3 diabetes" or diabetes of the brain. Here are a few links between the two diseases:

• Diabetics increase their chances of developing Alzheimer's by up to 65 per cent compared to those without diabetes;
• In Canada, more than 3 million Canadians have diabetes; by 2020, that number is expected to reach 3.7 million;
• It's estimated that Alzheimer's disease affects more than 450,000 Canadians; by 2031, that number is projected to more than double;
• Research shows that early onset of Type 2 diabetes also increases the chances of developing Alzheimer's earlier;
• Like the pancreas, the brain produces insulin! Researchers believe Alzheimer's develops when the brain becomes insulin-resistant, much like Type 2 diabetes;
• In the brain, insulin and insulin receptors are crucial to learning and memory. Insulin binds to receptors at synapses in the brain – points of communication – helping nerve cells to survive and memories to form;
• Diabetes can lead to faster cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients.

I find this link fascinating, and it only underscores the importance of a healthy lifestyle.