The Gut-Brain Connection: How Does Celiac Disease Affect the Brain?

Celiac Shows Itself in Mysterious Ways

Celiac disease, a genetic autoimmune disease triggered by the consumption of gluten, is known for causing intestinal inflammation and an upset stomach, with symptoms like bloating and diarrhea. Though it only affects an estimated one percent of the population, a higher percentage of people may be sensitive to gluten without as severe consequences as those with celiac disease.

While an upset stomach and skin irritation are well documented as symptoms of celiac, researchers speculate if neurological complications could also act as warnings of the disease.

Loss of motor control (ataxia) and brain fog have been identified in people with celiac disease. If ataxia and brain fog occur as a result of celiac, gastrointestinal symptoms are usually present as well, but not always. Doctors and researchers are also finding celiac patients who curiously have these neurological issues without obvious gastrointestinal symptoms. In his 2008 report titled “Neurological Disorders in Adult Celiac Disease” Hugh J Freeman remarks, “Clinical presentations of celiac disease are highly variable. Diarrhea and weight loss are usually present, but extraintestinal symptoms may occur, sometimes without any obvious gastrointestinal changes. As a result, celiac disease may be recognized late in the clinical course, often after treatment for other clinically overt disorders has been pursued” (Freeman). Given the wide variety of disorders related to decreased mental and muscular ability, it may take decades for a physician to consider celiac disease as a possible cause.

Freeman says, “Celiac disease may initially present as a neurological disorder. Alternatively, celiac disease may be complicated by neurological changes. With impaired nutrient absorption, different deficiency syndromes may occur and these may be manifested clinically with neurological changes” (Freeman).

No one knows for certain why mental issues and celiac disease, and a wide array of other autoimmune disorders, are correlated. However, there are several theories out there, including specific antibodies reacting in the brain, or if an individual is susceptible to multiple illnesses because of their genetics. 

Vitamin Deficiencies and Celiac Disease

One possible explanation for mental problems in celiac patients is that when gluten is ingested, the disease by its very nature disrupts and destructs the wall of the small intestine, preventing nutrients from absorbing into the blood stream and ultimately the brain. Without enough nutrients, the brain will begin to suffer and the patient may experience mental problems resembling ADHD, decreased focus, or even schizophrenia or psychosis.

Since the gut-wrecking results of celiac disease are caused by gluten consumption, removing the protein from the diet should abate all the symptoms, including neurological issues. If such a diet did indeed stop the intestinal breakdown and the brain damage, which follows from the inability to process nutrients, then gluten could justly be blamed for all the symptoms and the patient would be cured. However, scientists are not finding that gluten-free diets are clearing up the neurological issues. In many cases these problems still exist and actually continue to worsen.

One factor may explain this phenomenon, however, in order to properly function the brain needs nutrients commonly found in foods that contain gluten. Such key nutrients include all of the varieties of vitamin B, which has niacin and riboflavin. These nutrients are vital to a healthy brain and their absence is commonly known to cause neurological disorders. In theory, then, following a gluten-free diet and ingesting these vitamins from another source may help neurological symptoms.

The B vitamins are abundantly found in cereals and other foods gluten-free followers must avoid, but thankfully there are other ways to obtain these nutrients. An article by Molly McAdams called “Foods that are High in Vitamin B” on Live Strong lists a variety of foods hosting the nutrient, and several are safe for celiac patients, including almonds, pecans, spinach, bananas, seafood, poultry, and peas.

Vitamin E is also vital for mental health. It is commonly found in nuts, cooking oils, seafood, and healthy fats, such as avocados. An extensive list can be found in AtliArnarson’s article “20 Foods that are High in Vitamin E” on Healthline. 

If patients question whether they are getting ample nutrition from their gluten-free diets, they might consider consulting their doctor to see if vitamin supplements may be a good idea for them. 

Going Gluten-Free

The connections between celiac disease, gluten, and mental illness haven’t been fully explored, and the answer may not prove easy. What scientists and health professionals know for certain, however, is that the importance of a gluten-free diet for celiac patients cannot be stressed highly enough. Ample research has proved that the continued ingestion of gluten for celiac patients does not only cause temporary upsets but contributes to long-term harm, including further intestinal damage and maybe even sterility. 

For people without celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, eating foods containing gluten in moderation is a good thing. Skipping wheat products altogether limits some of the body’s sources of nutrition. Indeed, health professionals warn that people who do not have issues with gluten should not attempt a gluten-free diet.

For those with undiagnosed or mysterious mental problems, however, gluten might be considered as a possible culprit. And for those with celiac disease, mounting evidence for a correlation between gluten consumption and brain damage provides another reason to avoid the protein altogether. 

Sources

McAdams, Molly. “Foods That Are High in B Vitamins.” LIVESTRONG.COM, Leaf Group, 3 Oct. 2017, www.livestrong.com/article/22253-foods-high-b-vitamins/.

Arnarson, Atli. “20 Foods That Are High in Vitamin E.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 24 May 2017, www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-high-in-vitamin-e#section3.

Velasquez-manoff, Moises. “Can Celiac Disease Affect the Brain?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Oct. 2014, www.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/opinion/sunday/can-celiac-disease-affect-the-brain.html.

Freeman, Hugh J. “Neurological Disorders in Adult Celiac Disease.” Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology 22.11 (2008): 909–911. Print.

Alternative Links

Fitterman, Lisa. “Your Brain on Gluten.” Allergic Living, 25 Oct. 2017, www.allergicliving.com/2014/01/01/your-brain-on-gluten-celiacs-effect-on-cognition/.

Jackson, Jessica R. et al. “Neurologic and Psychiatric Manifestations of Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity.” The Psychiatric quarterly 83.1 (2012): 91–102. PMC. Web. 18 Jan. 2018.

“Gluten-brain Connection: The Celiac Disease of Mental Illness.”  http://www.drkaslow.com/html/gluten-brain_connection_.html