BRAIN FOG

[Nitsa]

Until a few yrs ago, my memory was great. Now i tap the above button & already forgot what i wanted to ask. Does that even get better?

[Scott Adams]

In general if the brain fog issues have been a symptom when you had undiagnosed celiac disease, it should improve once you go on a 100% gluten-free diet. For many celiacs brain fog is caused by nutrient deficiencies. 

The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs.

Because of this it took me decades to overcome a few long-standing issues I had that were associated with gluten ataxia, for example numbness and tingling in my feet, and muscle knots--especially in my shoulders an neck. Only long term extensive supplementation has helped me to resolve these issues.

 

 

 

[Nitsa]

Don't really want to reply to this but ok. I'm very new here & likely getting the wrong impression. I don't feel i was heard, judging by the replies & that means the questions were not answered.

[Scott Adams]

Can you me more specific? We're all just trying to help others here...

[Wheatwacked]

Hi Nitsa.

     Does that ever get better?  In my case, yes.  Looking back at my class standing on standardized tests from 3rd grade to 12th grade, I dropped 8 percentlle points. As the years passed I seemed to get dumber.  Finally started gluten free at 63.  Gained a little clarity, but still foggy.  I would forget what TV show I was watching seconds after the commercial started, as one example.  As Scott mentioned "For many celiacs brain fog is caused by nutrient deficiencies."

The vitamins I take that had the most benificial effect on my brain has been Choline and Iodine.  Current daily intake is 600 mcg a day with Liquid Iodine (12 drops in any drink),  

Choline also helps brain fog, gastrointestinal issues, gall bladder symptoms, Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver, fetal neural tube defects and cardiovascular inflammation. Homocysteine is an independent indicator of inflammation and mine is currently at 14.  From eating 4 eggs a day.  Or boost intake with the pills.  Normal is less than 19.  Less than 10% on the Standard American Diet eat the Adequate Intake, and less than 10% of doctors have a clue about Choline.  Thats why you'll notice most articles on homocysteine refer only to low levels of vitamins B6, B12, and folate.  Add to that list Choline and Taurine (antioxident amino acid.)

Growing up in the 50s and 60s, Iodine was used as a dough conditioner.  They stopped in the US in the 70s.  A slice of bread had 100 mcg and milk has 100 mcg.  A sandwich and glass of milk equaled at least 300 mcg. Two sandwiches and a glass of milk was 500 mcg.  That's just from lunch. Since 1970 the intake of iodine in the US is one half.  Thyroxine prescriptions and cancer has doubled.  One doctor wrote a paper that stated that more than half of his GYN patients had insufficient Iodine intake.  The safe upper limit in the US is 1150 micrograms.  In Japan it is 3000 mcg.  Maybe thats why non-western diet Japanese kids are smarter, have nicer skin and hair and half the breast cancer rate, compared to the US.        

Quote

WebMD: Heart Disease and Homocysteine  In fact, a high level of homocysteine is a risk factor for heart disease. It’s associated with low levels of vitamins B6, B12, and folate, as well as renal disease. Research has shown, however, that getting your homocysteine levels down with vitamins doesn’t reduce your chance of having heart disease.

That's only two nutrients.  In addition to reading Scott's article above, here is a more to the point post about nutrients.