Is it possible that the toxicity found in gluten could extend to our nervous system and lead to symptoms that are similar to Parkinson’s disease? According to a recent case study and new research, there is a good chance that our understanding of neurotoxicity is not well understood.
The case study involves a major recovery of a patient thought to have PD who, after a three month gluten-free diet, had an almost complete elimination of symptoms.
The case study involved one 75 year-old man who had a one year history of difficulty walking, tiredness and instability. He also was shown after examination by a doctor to have:
- Facial hypomimia (reduced facial expressions)
- Bradykinesia (extreme slowness of movements and reflexes)
- Rigidity
- Postural instability
Gluten, which is found in wheat, may exacerbate Parkinson’s-related symptoms in some patients.
A brain scan was done on the man that showed abnormalities that were consistent with lower levels of dopamine production, which when combined with the clinical data, led the doctor to diagnose him with PD.
But after he did not eat gluten for three months, the man had an almost total disappearance of symptoms. The doctor did not believe that the patient’s diet ‘cured’ him of the disease. Rather, it was thought that that some patients with PD may suffer additional symptoms from celiac disease, which can be caused by eating high amounts of foods with gluten, including breads and pasta.
There are many possible reasons why gluten could potentially cause nervous system and brain problems, according to some experts. For example:
- Gluten-brain immunity: Research shows that in some people, wheat can affect the connection between the gut and brain, which may lead to intestinal permeability, which then may lead to the immune system to attack the nervous system.
- Wheat’s structure could negative affect the brain: Aglutinin, which is also called wheat lectin, can cross our blood brain barrier and may wreak havoc with neurological functions.
- Grain can cause metabolic impairment in the brain: Some experts maintain that grains do not provide the proper nutrients for brain metabolism, which can lead to cognitive impairments. One expert, Dr. David Perlmutter, wrote the book Grain Brain that links cognitive problems in some older adults with a high consumption of carbohydrates.
More research must be conducted into this possible connection between consumption of gluten and PD symptoms, but this case certainly looks promising.
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