Why Gluten Is So Harmful To the Nervous System There has been an explosion of research on gluten and its impact on the nervous system in recent years; the timing of the hybridization and deamidation of grains and the onset of gluten-related diseases has aroused much suspicion about the safety of “new wheat.” Studies have found associations between gluten sensitivity and disorders in every major part of the nervous system, including the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves that extend into the arms and feet. Gluten sensitivity has been shown to be a significant trigger in psychiatric disorders, movement disorders, sensory ganglionapathy, ataxia, general neurological impairment, neuromyelitis, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, myoclonus, apraxia, myopathy, neuromuscular disease, multiple systems atrophy, cerebellar disease, migraines, hearing loss, cognitive impairment, dementia, restless leg syndrome, and disorders in virtually almost every part of the nervous system evaluated. The immune system mistakes nervous tissue for gluten. Three main mechanisms appear to cause gluten to assault the nervous system. The first is related to cross-reactivity, in which the immune system mistakes one protein for another—the protein structure of gluten is similar to protein structures in the nervous system. When you are sensitive to gluten, the immune system produces gluten antibodies to tag it for destruction. Because gluten is similar in structure to nervous tissue, the immune system may accidentally produce antibodies to nervous tissue whenever you eat gluten. Gluten sensitivity may create an autoimmune attack against the brain or other parts of the nervous system thanks to cross-reactivity. A person should not have an immune response to tissues in the body, only to foreign invaders such as bacteria and other pathogens. An immune response to self-tissue is called autoimmunity. Researchers have found gluten cross-reactivity leading to autoimmunity with synapsin, a family of proteins located on neurons that help regulate neurotransmitter release; the brain’s cerebellum, which can cause issues with balance, vertigo, or motor control; and an enzyme found in the brain called glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), which may cause symptoms related to anxiety. Another devastating mechanism gluten can trigger is an immune response against transglutaminase. Transglutaminases are enzymes that help bind proteins together and are also involved in the digestion of wheat. Transglutaminase-2 (TG2) is found in the intestinal lining, and TG2 antibodies have long been regarded as a laboratory marker for celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys TG2 in the intestinal lining, thus causing damage, inflammation, and poor absorption of nutrients. When inflammation damages the gut lining, transglutaminases are found in the debris field. The body reacts to them and tags them with antibodies. Transglutaminase-3 (TG3) is found in the skin, and a gluten-triggered autoimmune reaction to TG3 may lead to a skin disorder known as dermatitis herpetiformis, which presents as itchy red blisters frequently found on the knees, elbows, buttocks, and back, although they can appear elsewhere on the body. The more recently discovered transglutaminase-6 (TG6) is found throughout the central nervous system. Gluten can trigger immune reactivity to TG6, leading to autoimmune destruction of brain and nervous tissue. Transglutaminase is used by the food processing industry to tenderize meat and as a meat glue to hold processed meats together in distinct shapes. People with positive transglutaminase antibodies may react to this food additive. The third mechanism is that immune reactions to gluten can break down the blood-brain barrier, the thin lining that protects the brain, and lead to what is called leaky brain. A healthy blood-brain barrier prevents pathogens from getting into the brain but allows in necessary compounds, such as precursors for neurotransmitters. A leaky brain can allow in pathogens that increase the risk of autoimmune reactions in the brain and nervous system...
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 22:10:39 +0000
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