Gluten Causes Nerve Damage

Another study links nerve damage to gluten sensitivity. Gluten has been identified as a potential neurotoxin, and many with gluten sensitivity do not manifest symptoms of classic celiac disease, but instead develop nerve damage. In this study, the average age for nerve damage to develop was 55. A correlation was found between patients with idiopathic neuropathy (nerve damage of an unknown cause) and the presence of gluten intolerant HLA-DQ genes.

Source:

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2006;77:1262-1266.

Gluten Free Society’s Stance:

The Gluten Free Society would like to thank the authors of this study for their continued excellent research in the field of gluten induced nerve disease. Dr. Hadjivassiliou and colleagues have published a number of papers connecting gluten sensitivity with nerve damage. Many neurological conditions both acute and chronic are associated with gluten sensitivity. Below is a small list of some of the more commonly known:

1. Headaches
2. Carpal tunnel syndrome
3. Vertigo/Ataxia
4. Tinnitus
5. Multiple sclerosis
6. Restless legs syndrome
7. Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet (Neuropathy)
8. Parkinson’s disease
9. Lou Gehrig’s disease
10. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
11. Alzheimer
12. Depression
13. Autism
14. ADD/ADHD
15. Epilepsy
16. Schizophrenia

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