Acommon way of thinking of gluten-related disorders– whetherceliac disease or gluten sensitivity – is that the main symptoms are related to the digestive system – the intestines, the stomach, even the mouth. Glutensensitivityand celiac diseasecan affectother parts ofyourbody as well, includingyourbrain.
There are twomain ways glutencanaffectyourbrainand mental well-being:
- In people with gluten-related disorders,gluten can cause inflammation. This inflammation can affect any part ofyourbody, includingyourbrain,and canshowupaspsychiatric orbehavioralissues,mood disorders,or“foggy brain” or cognitive and memory issues.
- Some people experience psychologicaleffects,includingstress and difficult emotions,thatarenot directly related to the physical effects of gluten in the body. Dealingwithan autoimmune disease or having to make major dietaryanddailyhabitchanges when going gluten-freecan be challenging.
Let’s lookinto these two effectsin alittle more detail.
Physiological andNeurological Effectsof Gluten
Research around gluten’s effect on the brain is limited. However, research does existsuggestingpotential connectionstoceliac disease and gluten sensitivity.Inone study on neurological effects of celiac disease, researchers observedthat 42% of patients experiencedfrequent headaches, 24% reportedgaitinstability, and 12% had persistent sensory symptoms.
Alaterreportreiterated these findings andfoundthatthe patients also had abnormal brain imaging.
Connections have been reported between gluten and anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depressive and mood disorders, and schizophrenia.An article inFrontiers in Psychiatryexplored nutrition as a treatment for anxiety disordersand lists gluten as one of the maindietary componentstopotentiallyeliminate(along with artificial sweeteners). The researchers noted that people with anxiety may have an increased sensitivity to gluten and pointtoastudy where a gluten-free diet helped to decrease anxiety– but not depression – in celiac patients.
Onereview of the literatureona linkbetween gluten and depressionshowed that a gluten-free diet did improve mental health in patients withceliac disease and gluten sensitivity. The improvements were dependent on patients sticking with the diet.
While going on a gluten-free diet is used for celiac patients, primarily to stop the damage to the intestinal lining, other symptoms that might not be commonly thought of as related to gluten could go away. A gluten-free diet is not a substitute for addressing mental health issues through traditional means of therapy or medication. However, if you are experiencing mental health issues, examining your diet could be an appropriate consideration to bring up when with your healthcare provider. If you do not have a celiac disease or gluten sensitivity diagnosis, do not change your diet before getting properly examined and tested.
In terms of ADHD,one study showed that out of 67 patients with ADHD, 10 had celiac disease.
Onceon a gluten-free diet, they experiencedsignificant improvements in behavior and their ability to function.This doesn’t mean that ifyou oryour childareshowing symptoms of ADHD,orarediagnosed with ADHD,that a gluten-free dietis the next step to take. Speak with yourdoctor orpediatrician aboutapossible connectionbetween gluten and ADHD. The first step may be looking into testing for celiac disease if that diagnosis has not already beenconsidered.
Areview of the literatureon the connection between gluten and schizophreniahypothesized that a gluten-free diet couldimprove symptomsinindividualswith schizophrenia. According to the report,researchersobserved that people “withalong-standing diagnosis of schizophrenia as well as those with recent-onset psychosis share some of the immunologic features of celiac disease.”
How Gluten-Related DisordersCan Affect Quality of Life
Another way gluten-related disordersmayhave a psychological effectis by compromisingquality of lifeuntilanaccurate diagnosis and diet changeismade.Studies have shown that people with autoimmuneand other chronicdiseases, particularly if misdiagnosed or not properly treated, may experiencestress that can take a toll on their mental well-being.
One study lookedat people withchronic health issues and the negative effects on theirhealth-related quality of life (HRQoL). The study found that patients withchronic conditionswere more likely to have other chronic diseasesandexperiencepsychological issues such as depression, insomnia, and cognitive impairment. The study identified the waysto address these negative effects: through physical, psychological, and even spiritual intervention and support.
Getting a proper diagnosis can alleviate the stress you felt not knowing what was wrong. Keep in mind that you might experience additional psychological effects related to the stress of changing your diet or learning to be vigilant about avoiding gluten. At first, adapting to a new way of eating and living can be challenging.
Over time, asyoulearn more aboutliving gluten-free, the stressyou mightbe feelingshould lessen.Building your healthcare teamcan provide the support you need to get diagnosed and transition to a gluten-free way of life.Seeing a registered dietitiancan help make going gluten-free more manageable. In some cases, meeting with a GI psychologist could help address the emotional toll of being unwell.You are not alone in your healthcare journey.
The information on this website is for educational purposes only. Consult your healthcare team when considering this information.
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