An article on MayoClinic.com sheds light on the possible connection between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease and offers advice on how to reduce the risk of getting both conditions. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, a general term for a group of conditions that gradually destroy brain cells and lead to progressive decline in mental function. More than 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer's disease. Researchers have identified several ways in which the abnormal insulin and blood sugar levels in diabetes could promote the brain damage that causes dementia. They include: -- Inflammation and blood vessel damage related to high blood sugar -- Less insulin in the brain, which results in less glucose to nourish brain cells -- Increased production of certain proteins that clump in the brain Reducing the risk Weight loss and exercise can help prevent type 2 diabetes. In fact, people who have pre-diabetes -- a precursor to type 2 diabetes -- can cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half by losing 5 percent of their body weight and exercising 30 minutes a day. In addition to reducing the risk of diabetes and Alzheimer's, these lifestyle changes also offer some protection from heart attacks and strokes.