Neurological Symptoms And Brain Abnormalities

[Pegleg84]

Hi all

So I took a peek at the summary of this research in the newsletter this morning, on a study showing several Celiac disease patients with significant brain abnormalities, especially with people who have issues with headaches, dizziness, and other neurological issues:

https://www.celiac.com/articles/23041/1/Brain-Abnormalities-in-Patients-with-Celiac-Disease-and-Neurological-Issues/Page1.html

I found this really interesting, and some proof that there's definitely brain stuff going on with Celiac. Last year I went through rounds of test to figure out what was causing my dizziness, thinking it was an inner ear problem. Now that I've cut out milk, a lot of salt, and soy it's gotten 10 times better, but still interesting to see there could be a link to actual abnormalities in the brain.

Most people wouldn't have had an MRI without good reason, but last year I had two - one to check out my inner ear, which turned up nothing, and another to screen for aneurism, as my father died of one when he was only 35.

It turned up something: a (according to the neurologist) very tiny aneurism that probably won't get any bigger and isn't likely to cause problems. I haven't yet gone back to get it rescanned with contrast and have a better assessment, but it does make me wonder if that kind of abnormality could be Celiac related?

As far as I know, there weren't any other oddities with my brain, but you know doctors, they look for what they're supposed to and often ignore the rest.

We don't know if my father had Celiac, but it runs on his side of the family as well as on my mothers, so you never know.

I was just wondering if anyone else knows of any other research on brain abnormalities and Celiac, or knows they have similar issues as well.

Its an interesting possible link, and a sign that Celiac disease affects much much more than we thought.

Cheers

Peg

[NorthernElf]

I am looking forward to more research being done on this. I believe the study had a small sample group of around 30 some people.

Last April a rheumy sent me for an MRI of my head & neck as I was having a lot of joint issues and he didn't like my reflexes. My bloodwork did not show any arthritic conditions. My scan picked up some white matter issues that *could* be indicative of MS. I was quickly sent to a neruologist who all but ruled it out. I have no true MS symptoms (he did a lot of physical tests on me) - he said such scans can be over reported. It was scary. I will have another scan in a year but he thinks I don't have MS.

That article made me feel a bit better - one because of that scan and two because I am undiagnosed celiac. I could hire myself out as a gluten detector as I am pretty sensitive ! However, my original doc didnt' think I could have it and did not test me properly. I had a negative blood test and it took a few months to get my endoscope, at which time I quit eating gluten (didn't now I shouldn't)....and then she only ordered it to check for relux issues. I was very upset when I asked the doc who did it after if he saw signs of celiac and he said he hadn't been told to look for any !

Anyway, brain changes are still pretty unsettling even if it could prove to my new doc I really am celiac and not following some fad diet. I do think he believes me but if they don't have a test that says it they seem reluctant to use the word celiac.

[ravenwoodglass]

  On 9/24/2012 at 1:49 PM, NorthernElf said:

My scan picked up some white matter issues that *could* be indicative of MS. I was quickly sent to a neruologist who all but ruled it out. I have no true MS symptoms (he did a lot of physical tests on me) - he said such scans can be over reported. It was scary. I will have another scan in a year but he thinks I don't have MS.

Those lesions you speak of are called UBO's or Unidentified Bright Objects. They are found in folks that have gluten ataxia. Many neuros are clueless about them. Folks that have neuro issues from gluten often need to be very strict with the diet. The neuro issues can also show up long before the usual gut symptoms strike. I had neuro problems and DH from childhood but the gut stuff didn't get to the point of being a problem until my 30's.

[Takala]

Read here:

Open Original Shared Link Gluten sensitivity as a neurological illness, Hadjivassiliou, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry