wheat, gluten and dementia?

[rommelandremus]

I am on a personal quest to improve my health. I read many reports, mainly from America, pointing to a link between wheat/gluten contributing to dementia. My father had dementia. Does anyone else with coeliac/intolerance have a parent with or had dementia?

[weee]

My mum , maternal and paternal grandparents had dementia..

[rommelandremus in reply to weee]

I am sorry to hear that, such an awful disease. Are you gluten free?

[weee in reply to rommelandremus]

Yes I have coeliac disease. Diagnosed over 1 2years ago but likely had since I was a child..

[corby39]

i am gluten free and my father died from dementia and it always worries me that i might go the same way as i remain strictly have a terrible memory for names some who i have known for years. i keep on a strict gluten diet

[rommelandremus in reply to corby39]

I feel your pain, have you had your vitamin D and vitamin B12 checked recently - I would recommend you do this asap

[Sandyevans]

My mother had dimentia and my grandmother .

[rommelandremus in reply to Sandyevans]

I am sorry to hear that, do you follow a gluten free diet?

[Karen77]

Have you heard of (or read) Grain Brain by Dr David Perlmutter? He's a neurologist and argues that "carbs are destroying your brain. And not just unhealthy carbs, but even healthy ones like whole grains can cause dementia, ADHD, anxiety, chronic headaches, depression, and much more. Dr. Perlmutter explains what happens when the brain encounters common ingredients in your daily bread and fruit bowls, why your brain thrives on fat and cholesterol, and how you can spur the growth of new brain cells at any age." (taken from website)

He's not the only one to say that our brains need cholesterol. I believe that much of the paleo community as well as Dr. William Davis (Wheat Belly) say the same. Our brains need cholesterol, and statins (cholesterol-reducing meds) are lowering both bad AND good cholesterol indiscriminately. I believe there are also studies showing a link between taking statins and acquiring alzheimers/dementia. I find it quite fascinating.

[rommelandremus]

love Dr P

[jdine1969]

I have dermatitis herpetiformis so I am gluten free. My paternal grandfather had dementia.

[Penel]

There are links between problems with gluten and a variety of other conditions.

If you are coeliac and continue to eat gluten, there is a good chance that you could end up with a variety of complications. The causes of dementia are not straightforward.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[LizzieJ]

On the other hand, my sister & I are both gluten intolerant, both our parents had no signs or symptoms of dementia before they died in their 80s. However my husband - who has no CD or gluten intolerance in his family - both parents had dementia. I don't think there is enough evidence yet to link gluten with dementia.

[Karen77 in reply to LizzieJ]

That doesn't actually prove anything. Dr Perlmutter at least isn't saying that there is a correlation between Coeliacs and brain disease. He is saying that there is a link between gluten consumption and cholesterol and fat avoidance and brain disease. Also, it's likely possible to get dementia without consuming grains, but certainly a person with dementia doesn't also need to have CD or diagnosed gluten intolerance.

[rommelandremus]

I believe it is only a matter of time before gluten and high carb diets are proved to be the offenders

[Jacks]

There is a clinical study ongoing at this moment [2015] into coeliac disease and cognitive dysfunction. Not dementia but demonstrating a link with possible brain dysfunction. You can find details on the CUK website.

[Penel]

There is some evidence linking a low carb/ ketogenic diet as being possibly therapeutic in the case of several diseases, including Alzheimer's. Obviously, if you go very low carb, you will cut out wheat and gluten.

This study is from 2014.

nature.com/ejcn/journal/v67...

[Jampanda48]

My Mum has vascular dementia and I am gluten intolerant, I am sure she has had signs of intolerance for years too. As the signs of intolerance are so varied, whatever you go to the GP with they can never see a link, so her symptoms would never have been connected. Now I know what my symptoms are I can see and remember similar in my Mum. She was told many years ago that she had white matter building up in her brain but I dont think dementia was mentioned at this point. I am determined to remain GF just in case there is a connection.