Evidence on the damaging effect of gluten on the brain is mounting, and conditions like Gluten Ataxia are becoming more recognized. Gluten Ataxia is not a new condition and research in this area has been around for more than a decade.

Mindd Forum 2019 – vital Presentations on Food is Medicine

At the Mindd Forum 2019, the vital subject of good nutrition as the basis of all aspects of your health is a key ingredient in the public presentations. Each afternoon there will be demonstration sessions on Food is Medicine where you will discover everyday foods that support good health and rebalancing the body and mind. These presentations, by experts in the field, will help you avoid many of the challenges of food produced with current farming practices which can lead to deficient and sometimes problematic foods such as grains and gluten.

What is Gluten Ataxia?

Ataxia is the name given to a group of neurological disorders that affect coordination, speech, and balance. Swallowing and vision may also be affected.

It can occur for many reasons including hereditary reasons, such as Friedreich’s ataxia, or may develop with no known cause (idiopathic). Gluten ataxia involves an auto-immune response after eating gluten-containing grains1. The signs and symptoms of ataxia may develop gradually, and the age at onset of symptoms may vary for each.

Gluten Damage to the Brain

After eating gluten-containing grains, such as wheat, barley, rye and spelt, susceptible individuals, are shown to develop antibodies that may attack a particular type of cell in the cerebellum – the Purkinje cells. The cerebellum is responsible for coordination, balance and controls muscle movements. It is thought that the Purkinje cells share similar epitopes (part of antigen to which an antibody binds) to those in gliadin2.

So, instead of the antibody binding to the gliadin epitope, it accidentally binds to the Purkinje cell epitope. This means that eating gluten-containing grains can directly damage the brain. The longer the exposure to gluten in the diet, the more likely the effect.  The damage to the brain is irreversible and up to 60% of people with Gluten Ataxia show cerebellar shrinkage on MRI3.

Diagnosis

Getting a diagnosis of Gluten Ataxia may prove difficult.  Antibodies typically seen in those with Celiac Disease are present in fewer than 38% of people with Gluten Ataxia and are usually at lower levels than seen in Celiac Disease patients.

There is some evidence to show that a combination of antibodies may show up in Gluten Ataxia including tTG2, tTG6 antibodies, and anti-gliadin antibodies4. It is still unclear as to whether the detection of the combination of these antibodies is enough to give a diagnosis. However, they should be considered in cases of unexplained ataxia3. Even though less than 10% of patients with Gluten Ataxia will have any gastrointestinal symptoms, an intestinal biopsy may be useful3.

Genetic link

There may be a genetic link to Gluten Ataxia, and some research has shown that up to 70% of those with the condition have HLA-DQ2, HLA-DQ8 and HLA-DQ1 haplotypes 5(A haplotype is a group of genes inherited together from a single parent). These haplotypes are also present in many cases of Celiac Disease.

Gluten-free Diet in Gluten Ataxia

Eliminating all sources of gluten in these cases may be vital for reducing the damage to the brain.  There is evidence to show that a diet free from all sources of gluten may assist with ataxic symptoms6.  Some may argue that the damage is already done or that eliminating gluten does not give any benefits.  A strict elimination of every source of gluten in the diet, including those “free from” foods contaminated with trace amounts of gluten, may give the best results in the long term.

Key points to review

  • Gluten-containing grains can directly influence damage to the brain
  • Specific cells in the cerebellum are attacked by antibodies produced in response to eating gluten
  • Damage to the cerebellum may cause signs such as loss of balance, slurring of speech or poor coordination
  • There may be a genetic link to gluten ataxia
  • Gluten ataxia may, or may not, present with gastrointestinal symptoms or issues
  • A long-term, strict gluten-free diet may be the best course of action

Food is Medicine Highlights at the Mindd Forum 2019

If you remove grains from the diet what do you replace them with?
There are other options and for many, these are the solution to the problem of Gluten Ataxia. At the Mindd Forum 2019 discover foods that promote wellness and prevent disease through practical demonstrations by dynamic speakers and practitioners. Bring food-is-medicine principles into your everyday diet and lifestyle.

More specific information on Food is Medicine will be presented at the Mindd Forum. You can see the schedule of the 2019 Mindd Forum here…

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References

  1. Hadjivassiliou, M., Sanders, D. S., Grünewald, R. A., Woodroofe, N., Boscolo, S., & Aeschlimann, D. (2010). Gluten sensitivity: from gut to brain. The Lancet Neurology, 9(3), 318-330.
  2. Hadjivassiliou M, Boscolo S, Davies-Jones GA, Grunewald RA, Not T, Sanders DS, et al. (2002) The humoral response in the pathogenesis of gluten ataxia. Neurology. 58:1221–1226.
  1. Sapone et al. (2012) Spectrum of gluten related disorders: consensus on new nomenclature and classification. BMC Medicine 10:13
  1. Hadjivassiliou M, Mäki M, Sanders DS, Williamson CA, Grünewald RA, Woodroofe NM, Korponay-Szabó IR (2006) Autoantibody targeting of brain and intestinal transglutaminase in gluten ataxia. Neurology 66:373-377.
  1. Hadjivassiliou M, Grunewald R, Sharrack B, Sanders D, Lobo A, Williamson C, et al. (2003) Gluten ataxia in perspective: Epidemiology, genetic susceptibility and clinical characteristics. Brain. 126:685–691.
  2. Hadjivassiliou, M., Davies-Jones, G. A. B., Sanders, D. S., & Grünewald, R. A. (2003). Dietary treatment of gluten ataxia. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 74(9), 1221-1224.