The Latest on Dementia and Gluten
Clinical studies now implicate food toxins like caseins, glutens, phytates and others in the formation brain plaques associated with dementia. Studies have shown that gluten is indeed implicated in the evolution of numerous neurodegenerative conditions^. Avoidance of gluten and other food toxins would seem an obvious solution. So why do we still turn to drugs?
^ Croall ID, Sanders DS, Hadjivassiliou M, Hoggard N. Cognitive Deficit and White Matter Changes in Persons With Celiac Disease: A Population-Based Study. Gastroenterology. 2020 Jun;158(8):2112-2122. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.02.028. Epub 2020 Feb 20. PMID: 32088203.
Alzheimer drug to be discontinued
Aduhelm (aducanumab) made by Biogen will be discontinued in 2024. Administered by injection it was designed to reduce amyloid plaques in the brain which disrupt cognitive and memory function. However - in independent trials around 40% of patients there were adverse side effects like headache, dizziness and confusion. The drug is set to be replaced by another … Lecanemab.
Here at the Food intolerance Institute we ask, instead of trying to counteract brain plaques with drugs - why not discover why they appear in the first place? Strikingly - scientists already have a handle on this … and the FOOD TOXIN wheat gluten plays a big part in plaque formation and neurodegenerative disease. * Lerner et al.).
In an analysis of data from the UK Biobank, we found participants with celiac disease to have cognitive deficit, indications of worsened mental health, and white matter changes, based on analyses of brain images. These findings support the concept that celiac disease is associated with neurologic and psychological features.
*Lerner, A.; Benzvi, C. “Let Food Be Thy Medicine”: Gluten and Potential Role in Neurodegeneration. Cells 2021, 10, 756. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10040756
We also know that gluten gangs up with other food toxins to wreak various kinds of havoc in the body: type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and others. Of course the pharma industry might not be interested in the scientists’ findings … because if we understand why and how plaques form - there would be less need for these drugs.
Gluten implicated in dementia
Poisons cause amyloid plaques (orange) to form in the brain and disrupt nerve signals - leading to memory loss and cognitive difficulty. Evidence shows food toxins like gluten from wheat and other grains are implicated in the plaque formation.
Dozens of studies now implicate food toxins in the molecular-level injury which characterises neurodegenerative diseases. Some disease comes about due to demyelination of nerve cells: multiple sclerosis (MS), Guillain-Barré syndrome and others.
But there are other mechanisms. Lou-Gehrig disease, or ALS, also known as motor neurone disease (MND) happens because the nerve cells are actually killed off. Huntington’s arises from the action of glutamates[i] on neurotransmitters – leading to chromosomal changes which can be inherited.
Other neurodegenerative disorders appear because amyloid proteins are constantly present in high concentration and make deposits on the brain - plaques: autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson and Alzheimer disease.
Other neurodegenerative disorders appear because amyloid proteins are constantly present in high concentration and make deposits on the brain - known as plaques. These cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson and Alzheimer disease.
Which foods carry toxins?
There are numerus toxins we should be avoiding - but a gluten-free, dairy-free diet is a great beginning. Our diet programs are designed especially for people who have never done it before - with recipes, guides and 24/7 support.
Accumulated evidence says - these incurable diseases could be avoided by choosing different foods.
While advanced neural damage is difficult to reverse – early intervention with dietary changes has seen good results in autism[ii] and multiple other neurodegenerative diseases[iii].
Our concern is, the medical profession still turns to drugs as the only way to tackle these diseases – even though results are mixed and there are no cures.
Our mission is to inform the public that simple dietary changes can prevent the neural damage which leads to plaques, demyelination and other injury.
No Risk: Reducing food toxins in your diet carries none of the risks or issues of medical treatment.
Learn more about the Low toxin diet.
References
[i] Gárdián, G., Vécsei, L. Huntington’s disease: pathomechanism and therapeutic perspectives. J Neural Transm 111, 1485–1494 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-004-0201-4
[ii] Adams JB et al. Comprehensive Nutritional and Dietary Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Randomized, Controlled 12-Month Trial. Nutrients 2018 Mar 17;10(3). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29562612/
[iii] Lee JE, Ryu DW, Kim JS, An JY. Celiac disease presenting as motor neuron disease. Neurol India. 2018 Nov-Dec;66(6):1810-1812. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30504587/
