The best-characterized neurologic complication related to gluten sensitivity is ataxia, now termed “gluten ataxia”. Gluten ataxia is characterized by positive anti-gliadin antibodies, changes in the cerebellum, and ataxic symptoms including upper or lower limb ataxia, gait ataxia, and dysarthria [11].
The most common neurological symptoms in people with coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity are ataxia and neuropathy. Ataxia includes clumsiness, loss of balance and uncoordinated movements leading to a tendency to fall and slurred speech.
Many celiac patients experience neurological symptoms, frequently associated with malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. These neurological symptoms can present in celiac patients who are well nourished.
The five major illnesses associated with gluten are celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, wheat allergy, gluten ataxia, and dermatitis herpetiformis.
Ataxia. Ataxia is one of the most frequent neurological abnormalities in celiac disease. Its predominant clinical manifestations include dysarthria, dysphonia, pyramidal signs, abnormal movements of eyes, and progressive ataxia of gait.
In a systematic, controlled study of the effect of GFD in a large series of patients with gluten neuropathy (of the sensorimotor axonal type), a clear clinical and neurophysiological improvement was demonstrated after 12 months in those patients adhering to a strict GFD with serological elimination of the AGA [17].
Gluten and Irritability
Hyperactivity and food with gluten seem to go hand in hand in children with some sensitivity to this food. Irritability and aggressiveness are other bad behaviors that gluten can trigger.
It affects the small intestine – the part of the digestive system responsible for absorbing nutrients. If you have coeliac disease, eating gluten – a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats – causes damage to the lining of your small intestine.
If you're extremely sensitive to even trace amounts of gluten, you may experience symptoms within minutes of ingestion – similar to an allergy. In many cases, however, symptoms don't develop until one to twelve hours after exposure. For some, symptoms take days or even weeks to manifest.
Two blood tests can help diagnose it: Serology testing looks for antibodies in your blood. Elevated levels of certain antibody proteins indicate an immune reaction to gluten. Genetic testing for human leukocyte antigens (HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8) can be used to rule out celiac disease.
Ocular conditions associated with celiac disease include: Dry eyes: Dry eyes develop when you cannot produce adequate tears to keep your eye moist. Dry eyes related to celiac disease may develop from a vitamin A deficiency. Cataracts: Cataracts may also develop due to malnutrition.
Celiac disease is a digestive problem that hurts your small intestine. It stops your body from taking in nutrients from food. You may have celiac disease if you are sensitive to gluten. If you have celiac disease and eat foods with gluten, your immune system starts to hurt your small intestine.
“From the standpoint of treating neuropathy, gluten sensitivity must first be confirmed by a positive blood test,” Dr. Zis explains. “A positive test will reveal antibodies to gluten proteins and, along with other factors, can confirm that gluten in the diet may be involved in the development of pain.”
The exact causes of gluten intolerance aren't well understood. Some research shows that people may not be sensitive to gluten, but to a certain carbohydrate found in many foods. Their bodies don't absorb the carbohydrate as they should. It stays in their guts and ferments, causing sickness.
There may be relationships between inflammation and mental health/illness as the gut and brain are connected, but there are many potential reasons for increased anxiety. This may also include a connection between the inflammation actually causing increased anxiety and lowered mood.
A gluten-free diet can improve symptoms from celiac disease. Many people notice improved pain, bloating, and diarrhea in as little as a few weeks.
CD patients with ataxia often present with difficulty with arm and leg control, gait instability, poor coordination, loss of fine motor skills such as writing, problems with talking, and visual issues. Gluten ataxia usually has an insidious onset with a mean age at onset of 53 years [11].
A gluten intolerance can cause problems with your digestive system, but it won't cause permanent damage to your stomach, intestine, or other organs.
Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine.
Up to 60% of patients with gluten ataxia have evidence of cerebellar atrophy—literally, shrinkage of that part of the brain—when examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. 4 In some people, an MRI also will reveal bright white spots on the brain that indicate damage.
Median time of symptom onset was reported as being 90 minutes; almost half of participants experienced symptoms within the first hour. Median symptom resolution time was 2 days, with just over three-quarters of patients recovering within a week.