Gluten is protein found in wheat, rye, barley and their relatives. It is only partially digested in your intestine, which gives rise to protein fragments that trigger a robust immune reaction in those who are genetically inclined to react to gluten. If you are sensitive to gluten, the antibodies that are supposed to protect you from gluten proteins attack your tissues, potentially causing injury to your intestine, liver, skin, skeleton, reproductive system, endocrine organs and nervous system.
Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity
Celiac disease, the classic manifestation of gluten sensitivity, affects up to one in 100 people in the United States. This condition primarily affects your intestine, but it can affect other organs, as well. An August 2011 review in “The Psychiatric Quarterly” points out that celiac disease is only one manifestation of gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity may be six times more prevalent than celiac disease and can present with symptoms unrelated to the digestive system. In fact, the nervous system seems to be a principal target.
Brain Function
Celiac disease has been linked to a number of neurologic disorders including cerebellar ataxia, epilepsy, myoclonic ataxia, chronic neuropathy and dementia, according to the authors of a study published in 2004 in the journal "Pediatrics." The study found that a range of other disorders – headaches, attention-deficit disorder, tic disorders, schizophrenia, depression and learning disabilities – are more common among those with celiac disease than those who don't have it.
Peripheral Neuropathy
The same immunological attack that occurs in the brains of gluten-sensitive people can also affect peripheral nerves. Numbness, tingling, prickling or burning sensations, decreased vibratory sensation and pain are common complaints associated with peripheral neuropathies. The symptoms can mimic those of nerve-damaging diseases such as diabetes and vitamin B-12 deficiency. This sometimes leads to a delay in the diagnosis of gluten-related health problems in those with other medical issues.
Considerations
Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity span a spectrum of signs and symptoms. In some people, symptoms are limited to mild gastrointestinal upset, while others develop multi-system issues. Neurologic involvement is a common manifestation of gluten sensitivity, and it can occur without any sign of intestinal problems. Adopting a gluten-free diet is the only effective approach, but, as exemplified by a case study cited in the October 2008 issue of “Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare,” it may not reverse nerve damage. In this instance, a 70-year-old man with celiac disease exhibited improvement in his peripheral neuropathy, but not the ataxia.
References
- “American Family Physician”; Celiac Disease; R.J. Presutti, et al.; December 2007
- “The Psychiatric Quarterly”; Neurologic and Psychiatric Manifestations of Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity; J.R. Jackson, et al.; August 2011
- “Pediatrics”; Range of Neurologic Disorders in Patients with Celiac Disease; N. Zelnik, et al.; June 2004
- “Schizophrenia Research”; Novel Immune Response to Gluten in Individuals with Schizophrenia; D. Samaroo, et al.; May 2010
- “Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare”; A 70-Year-Old Male with Peripheral Neuropathy, Ataxia and Anti-Gliadin Antibodies Shows Improvement in Neuropathy, but Not Ataxia, after Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Gluten-Free Diet; D. Anandacoomaraswamy, et al.; October 2008
