Celiac Disease Linked To Dementia (Gluten Free Diet May Reverse Decline)

[Guest guest]

Celiac Disease Linked to Dementia

Gluten-Free Diet May Reverse Mental Decline in Patients

By Salynn Boyles, WebMD Medical News

Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD, Friday, October 13, 2006

Oct. 13, 2006 -- Adults who develop the digestive condition known as

celiac disease appear to be at increased risk for dementia,

according to new research from the Mayo Clinic.

Celiac disease is a disorder caused by an immune reaction to eating

gluten, found in some grains such as wheat, barely, and rye. Damage

occurs to the inner lining of the small intestine. Classic symptoms

include chronic diarrheadiarrhea, weight lossweight loss, cramping,

bloating, and gas.

About 10% of celiac patients have some neurologic symptoms, such as

numbness and pain. But a link to dementia and other forms of mental

decline has not been widely reported.

Mayo Clinic neurologist A. phs, MD, MST, tells WebMD that

he first made the connection when examining a patient suspected of

having the fatal brain disorder Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

The patient did not have CJD, but he did have celiac disease. He

also had rapid-onset dementia, which coincided with the onset of

diarrhea and other well-recognized symptoms of the digestive disease.

" I wanted to find out if the dementia was related to the celiac

disease, " phs says.

Gluten-Free Diet Reversed Dementia

phs and colleagues including T. Hu, MD, PhD, examined

the medical histories of 13 patients who showed evidence of serious

mental declines within two years of developing symptoms of celiac

disease.

The patients were between the ages of 45 and 79, and their average

age was 64.

In five cases, celiac symptoms and mental decline occurred

simultaneously. Two of the patients also recovered mental function

when they followed gluten-free diets, and mental function stabilized

in one patient.

Avoiding wheat and other gluten-containing grains is the main

treatment for celiac disease.

" This is a big deal, " phs says. " It is almost unheard of to see

a reversal in dementia or cognitive decline. "

The next step, he says, is to try and figure out the connection

between celiac disease and mental deterioration. One theory is that

the immune response to celiac disease attacks the brain. Another is

that the disease causes inflammation within the brain, which

triggers dementia.

Mayo clinic gastroenterologist and celiac disease expert ph

Murray, MD, says he was surprised that the link was so strong.

" I was not expecting that there would be so many celiac disease

patients with cognitive decline, " he said.

Celiac Often Misdiagnosed

Celiac disease is common, occurring in about one in 133 people,

Murray says. But it is often misdiagnosed or missed altogether due

to the vague nature of the symptoms.

The new findings give doctors an added reason to identify patients

with celiac disease and to treat patients who have been diagnosed,

the researchers conclude.

That means ruling out celiac disease in patients who have atypical

forms of dementia and being watchful for mental decline in celiac

patients.

SOURCES: Hu, W.T. Archives of Neurology, October 2006; vol 63,

online edition. A. phs, MD, MST, neurologist, Mayo Clinic,

Rochester, Minn. ph A. Murray, MD, gastroenterologist, Mayo

Clinic, Rochester, Minn.