The May (2004) issue of the Archives of Neurology published a study which shows strong connections between diabetes and Alzheimer's. Lead author of the study, a neurologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago confirms that "confidence that diabetes is linked to Alzheimer's is pretty strong."

The new research is one of the first long-term studies to follow people with no signs of Alzheimer's and track how diabetes affects their risk of getting the brain disease. "It's a powerful argument for doing everything you can to control your blood sugar" says William Thies, vice president for medical and scientific affairs at the Alzheimer's Association.