Gluten causes neurological disease

Media Release for immediate use, 20 May 2009

Gluten causes neurological disease

A long list of nerve and brain disorders has been associated with gluten sensitivity. These include: wobbly walking (cerebella ataxia), muscle weakness, slow development, learning problems, attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression, lethargy, migraine and headache.  Medical research has shown that these problems can be triggered by gluten and occur in people who do not have coeliac disease.

Dr Ford has published this new concept in the medical journal Medical Hypotheses - “The gluten syndrome: a neurological disease” http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2009.03.037

His hypothesis is that gluten causes people a lot of symptoms by its harmful affect on the nervous system.

This means gluten sensitivity can no longer be seen as only a gut problem: a much wider view of gluten reactions is needed.  Subsequently, anyone who has chronic unexplained symptoms - especially if associated with fatigue and tiredness - should be tested for gluten sensitivity.  If gluten is the putative harmful agent, then there is no requirement to invoke gut damage and nutritional deficiency to explain the myriad of the symptoms experienced by sufferers of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.  He calls this “The Gluten Syndrome”.

Dr Ford’s research shows that one in ten people are adversely affected by gluten: that means there are nearly half a million gluten sufferers in New Zealand.  He says that the simple reason for the upsurge of people adopting the gluten-free lifestyle is that for the first time in years they feel well again. 

Dr Ford is to speak at the Gluten Free and Allergy Show 23 and 24 May at the Auckland ASB Showground.  He will describe “The Gluten Syndrome” which he regards as the world’s biggest health secret.   This wide endorsement of gluten-sensitivity marks the beginning of coeliac disease awareness week.  You can find out a lot more from his webpage: www.DrRodneyFord.co.nz

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