Parkinson's Disease

[ArtGirl]

To those of you who like to research things - has anyone ever read if there's a gluten link to Parkinson's? Has anyone with this ever gone gluten-free and noted any improvement?

Just wondering. My father died from Parkinson's and I'm almost certain, looking back, that he was at least gluten-intolerant (I got one of my two g.i. genes from him, afterall).

[Electra]

Well I can tell you that before I found Celiac and tested positive, we were concerned that I may have Parkinsons Disease. I'm only 34 and when I turned 30 my head started bobbing like an old ladies. It was a joke at first and everyone laughed, but then when it got worse and I got other symptoms it didn't seem so funny anymore. My hands started shaking out of control (but only at times) and there seemed to be no pattern. When I was sick it was worse, but when I was feeling better it didn't happen. Now that I am Glutan Free I don't notice it much, but I've only been Glutan Free for a couple of weeks and there have been two times that I know of that I was accidentally glutaned. I also lost a lot of my balance and my foot went cold and numb a lot so I started tripping 3 or 4 times a year and I'd fall down too which was weird because I have never been clumsy or had any problems with BALANCE!!

It's an interesting theory and I really think if I had not stumbled upon Celiac I may also have been diagnosed with Parkinsons!! I wonder if Michael J. Fox has ever gone Glutan Free?

[Rachel43]

Artgirl - Very interesting... My mum has been dxd for 5 years with PD. She also has had thyroid problems (over active though) as had my aunt (her sis) I think there could well be something here for researchers it stands to reason

I had + blood tests 2 weeks b4 Xmas and have been gluten-free (well nearly, due to a few mistakes) since. I had my biopsy done two weeks ago my next apptmt is in two more weeks but I feels so much better for the gluten-free diet that I shall try not to ingest gluten regardless what the biopsy says.

[Darn210]

Here's an old thread that actually had some activity not too long ago about Parkinson's

Open Original Shared Link

[kenlove]

In 2006 was also first diagnosed with Parkinson's. Couldn't focus on my left leg it shook so much. That lasted two weeks with no change on the meds and another month before they figured out the celiac. The shakes stopped as soon as I was gluten-free for a few days.

With everything I read on this forum, it seems to me that going gluten-free would be advantageous for anyone.

Ken

To those of you who like to research things - has anyone ever read if there's a gluten link to Parkinson's? Has anyone with this ever gone gluten-free and noted any improvement?

Just wondering. My father died from Parkinson's and I'm almost certain, looking back, that he was at least gluten-intolerant (I got one of my two g.i. genes from him, afterall).

[moldlady]

This is very interesting indeed!

We have "shakes" on both sides of the family and I started getting them only when I need to do something small and most accurate!! When I started eating a plant based diet, with no sugars, limited fruits, no gluten, these shakes went away. Other members of my family thought I was nuts and they still shake at those times when you do not want to shake..

I think there is a possible gluten link, a fungal link, and possibly a heavy metal link. If it were me, I would do everything possible to try and treat it naturally and see if things can heal and not have to take any meds. All those meds have side effects.

moldlady

[UR Groovy]

Hello,

I'm curious if any of you with first degree relatives dx'd with Parkinson's have had genetic testing. Also, how many of you in that same boat suffered from anxiety & depression. The gene that I'm particularly interested in is DQB1*06 .

My mother was dx'd with Parkinson's a couple years ago. I, myself, haven't had any testing for Celiac, but suspect that I would be found to be non-celiac gluten intolerant. I've read many articles that have tried to link the two, but none have conclusive results. I wish they would do more tesing on this. The connection that intrigues me is that there seems to be a connection in PD to first degree relatives with anxiety & depression. The neurological component just seems too apparent to rule out a connection. Some with Celiac present with symptoms which appear to have nothing to do with GI issues, but more neurological. As the 14 months that I've been gluten-free have gone on, my problems when exposed to gluten have changed dramatically. I used to have nasty GI issues, but at this point, my most notable reactions are about 2 weeks of depression & anxiety. I suffered from depression for at least 20 years - not just a little depression - we're talking suicidal, crazy thoughts type depression - I was medicated for years. No need for meds since I've been gluten-free.

I'm thinking about getting genetic testing, but it's kind of moot at this point. I'm gluten-free for life. I just wish I had some compelling evidence that may convince my Mom to give it a shot. She's in the beginning stages.