OMG! Decadent Donuts New Zealand is proud of our involvement with Coeliac New Zealand which is a national charity and all about research into Coeliac Disease and ways to treat it. Currently, the only treatment for Coeliac Disease is consuming gluten-free food. In effect, for those with Coeliac Disease, their food is their medicine.
As OMG! Decadent Donuts are gluten free – that means donuts are medicine for those with Coeliac Disease. Happy days!
While that may seem flippant, we are committed to supporting Coeliac New Zealand and the important work they do.
Coeliac Disease is a well-known autoimmune disorder that affects many people worldwide. It arises from an immune response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. While the primary symptoms of coeliac disease involve the digestive system, growing research suggests that the effects of this disorder extend beyond the gut, affecting the brain and other organs. This raises important questions about its relationship with neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and other autoimmune disorders.
Coeliac Disease and Autoimmunity: A Complex Connection
At its core, Coeliac Disease is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the small intestine upon the ingestion of gluten. The inflammatory response leads to damage in the intestinal lining, which impairs the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients. However, this autoimmune reaction doesn’t remain isolated in the gut. It often coexists with or contributes to the development of other autoimmune disorders, driven by a combination of genetic susceptibility and immune system dysregulation.
Individuals with Coeliac Disease are more likely to develop a variety of other autoimmune disorders, including:
Type 1 Diabetes: Studies have shown that people with Coeliac Disease have a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes, and vice versa. The two conditions share genetic markers, including the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 alleles.
Autoimmune Thyroid Disease: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease are common in individuals with coeliac disease, with some estimates suggesting that around 10-15% of people with Coeliac Disease also have autoimmune thyroid disease.
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis: Research also indicates a higher prevalence of autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS) among those with coeliac disease.
The link between Coeliac Disease and other autoimmune conditions is largely driven by shared genetic predispositions and the presence of chronic inflammation. In Coeliac Disease, the body’s production of inflammatory cytokines and antibodies directed against gluten may also cross-react with tissues outside the gut, leading to further autoimmune responses in different organs.
Coeliac Disease and Cognitive Health: The Alzheimer’s Connection
While the relationship between Coeliac Disease and autoimmune conditions is well established, the potential link between Coeliac Disease and Alzheimer’s disease is an emerging area of research. Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, is characterized by progressive cognitive decline, memory loss, and behavioural changes. Though many factors contribute to Alzheimer’s, recent studies have begun to investigate whether chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation, like those seen in Coeliac Disease, might play a role.
One potential link is the concept of “neuroinflammation,” which refers to inflammation in the brain. Chronic inflammation, a hallmark of Coeliac Disease, is thought to contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease by increasing the production of inflammatory proteins and cytokines that can damage brain cells over time. Individuals with untreated Coeliac Disease may experience cognitive symptoms such as brain fog, memory problems, and reduced concentration, which could be indicative of broader neurodegenerative changes.
A 2006 study from the Mayo Clinic highlighted the potential connection between Coeliac Disease and cognitive decline. It examined 13 patients with Coeliac Disease who also had progressive cognitive impairment. The study found that some patients showed improvement or stabilization of their dementia symptoms after adopting a strict gluten-free diet.
Although this study is small, it suggests that controlling inflammation through diet might help protect cognitive function in individuals with Coeliac disease.
Additionally, some researchers suggest that gluten sensitivity may be linked to an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases in the general population, particularly through its potential to exacerbate inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain. However, much of this research is still in its early stages, and more studies are needed to confirm these connections.
Reducing Risk Through Diet and Early Diagnosis
For individuals diagnosed with Coeliac Disease, the most effective treatment is strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. This diet eliminates the immune system’s trigger—gluten—and helps to reduce inflammation, which may, in turn, lower the risk of developing additional autoimmune disorders and cognitive decline.
While gluten-free diets have gained popularity as a supposed means of boosting brain health in the general population, there is little evidence to support these claims outside of individuals with Coeliac Disease. In fact, cutting out gluten unnecessarily can lead to nutritional deficiencies, particularly in fibre, vitamins, and minerals that are important for brain health.
Instead, experts recommend focusing on well-established dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean, DASH, or MIND diets, which are rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, and have been shown to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
The connection between Coeliac Disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other autoimmune conditions highlights the complex interplay between genetics, inflammation, and immune system dysregulation. While much is still unknown, early research suggests that early diagnosis and managing Coeliac Disease through a gluten-free diet may help reduce the risk of developing further autoimmune complications and potentially protect against cognitive decline. Continued research will be critical to fully understanding these links and uncovering new avenues for prevention and treatment.
Recent research has suggested that immune system dysfunction might play a role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Some studies have found evidence of neuroinflammation, where the immune system’s response within the brain contributes to the damage seen in Alzheimer’s. This has led to interest in understanding the potential involvement of immune-related mechanisms, but Alzheimer’s is still not defined as an autoimmune disorder.
The immune system’s role in Alzheimer’s remains a growing field of research, but it differs from the classic autoimmune mechanism where the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue (as seen in Coeliac Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, or Lupus).
References:
- Cognitive Impairment in Coeliac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity: A Literature Review | Acta Neurologica Belgica (SpringerLink)
- Going Gluten-free for Your Brain? | Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (Home)
- Is There a Link Between Gluten and Alzheimer’s? | Five Star Senior Living (Five Star Senior Living)
