gluten ataxia

April 15, 2008

For myself this is interesting... I have been having a long running discussion/argument with my neurologist regarding 'the wobbles' and being unbalanced in walking and movement... he blames it all on my too high cholesterol readings and my refusal to take statin medications.... never once has he thought about/discussed with me my digestive issues and sensitivity to gluten. I also have skin rashes which itch like crazy... I think is also related to my gluten problems

Clare in Tassie

Sensitivity To Gluten May Result In Neurological Dysfunction; Independent Of Symptoms

ScienceDaily (Apr. 30, 2002) — ST. PAUL, MN – You may have gluten sensitivity and not even know it, according to a study published in the April 23 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Loss of coordination (ataxia) may result from gluten sensitivity. This disease is known as gluten ataxia. The study found that some patients might never experience the gastrointestinal symptoms that prompt them to seek treatment for the disorder.

“Gluten ataxia is a common neurological manifestation of gluten sensitivity,” according to M. Hadjivassiliou, M.D., of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. “It remains unclear why some patients with gluten sensitivity present solely with neurological dysfunction when others present with gastrointentestinal symptoms (gluten sensitive enteropathy) or an itchy skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis).”

Although the cerebellum (the part of the brain responsible for coordination) and in particular the Purkinje cells (output neurons of the cerebellum) appear to be most susceptible to damage in patients with gluten ataxia, other areas of the brain are not spared. “We were interested to determine the mechanism by which Purkinje cells are damaged in gluten ataxia,” commented Hadjivassiliou. Study results show that patients with gluten ataxia have antibodies against Purkinje cells and also that antibodies against gluten (antigliadin antibodies) cross-react with Purkinje cells.

“These results strengthen our contention that eliminating these antibodies through strict adherence to a gluten-free diet may have important therapeutic implications for patients with gluten ataxia,” concluded Hadjivassiliou.

The study was supported by the Friedreich's Ataxia Group, UK, and the Telethon Foundation, Italy.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of 18,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit its website at www.aan.com.

Adapted from materials provided by American Academy Of Neurology.

April 15, 2008

Thank you so much for this post. I stumble a lot, especially getting out the car, and turning . It happened a few times today, and I was wondering why. It use to be once in awhile, but lately it's alot. I have neuropathy in my right leg. Delayed reflex in both feet. Friedreich's Ataxia, seems to ring a bell. I think someone in the family had that. I have a lot of gastro issues, mainly IBS. I'm also 47xxx. Is there a connection with FA? Thanks, Magnolia Clares Primus <mcharris wrote: For myself this is interesting... I have been having a long running discussion/argument with my neurologist regarding 'the wobbles' and being unbalanced in walking and movement... he blames it all on my too high cholesterol readings and my refusal to take statin medications.... never once has he thought about/discussed with me my digestive issues and sensitivity to gluten. I also have skin rashes which itch like crazy... I think is also related to my gluten problems Clare in Tassie Sensitivity To Gluten May Result In Neurological Dysfunction; Independent Of Symptoms ScienceDaily (Apr. 30, 2002) — ST. PAUL, MN – You

may have gluten sensitivity and not even know it, according to a study published in the April 23 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Loss of coordination (ataxia) may result from gluten sensitivity. This disease is known as gluten ataxia. The study found that some patients might never experience the gastrointestinal symptoms that prompt them to seek treatment for the disorder. “Gluten ataxia is a common neurological manifestation of gluten sensitivity,” according to M. Hadjivassiliou, M.D., of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. “It remains unclear why some patients with gluten sensitivity present solely with neurological dysfunction when others present with gastrointentestinal symptoms (gluten sensitive enteropathy) or an itchy skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis).” Although the cerebellum (the part of the brain responsible for coordination) and

in particular the Purkinje cells (output neurons of the cerebellum) appear to be most susceptible to damage in patients with gluten ataxia, other areas of the brain are not spared. “We were interested to determine the mechanism by which Purkinje cells are damaged in gluten ataxia,” commented Hadjivassiliou. Study results show that patients with gluten ataxia have antibodies against Purkinje cells and also that antibodies against gluten (antigliadin antibodies) cross-react with Purkinje cells. “These results strengthen our contention that eliminating these antibodies through strict adherence to a gluten-free diet may have important therapeutic implications for patients with gluten ataxia,” concluded Hadjivassiliou. The study was supported by the Friedreich's Ataxia Group, UK, and the Telethon Foundation, Italy. The American Academy of

Neurology, an association of 18,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit its website at www.aan.com. Adapted from materials provided by American Academy Of Neurology. Magnolia Blessed are the cracked, for they are the ones, that let the light in.

between 0000-00-00 and 9999-99-99