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Below are the responses I got from my question about celiac disease and
alzheimer's.  It was really helpful to learn more about the connection to
other problems such as diabetes.  I don't have a medical diagnosis and my
relatives don't take it seriously, but if any of the other problems show up
I will try to convince them to get tested.  People on this list are so helpful!

Suzanne

>Good question.
>My great aunt (a celiac) said she knows that her mother had celiac but was
>undiagnosed.  She did lose her mind as she aged.  Maybe there is a
>connection there?
>Suzanne

>your relatives may have been asymptomatic.  Gluten-intolerance
>manifests in a million ways in every system of the body.  Not all have
>the the classic celiac symptoms.   Have you had a chance to read the book:
>    Eat Right For Your (blood) Type
>    by Dr. Peter D'Adamo
>It explains a lot about the ill effects of the wrong foods.   My son
>suffered from mental disorders after he graduated from University
>at 21, and now at 37 he has been gluten-free for a while, and feels
>better than ever.
>I think that wheat is the poor man's poison!

>Hi -
>I was doing some research and found that indeed there is a higher incidence
>of encephalopathy, cerebellar atrophy.  Also, Vitamin deficiencies
>(especially B and D) can cause memory problems, so any celiac should have
>those checked frequently.  My husband is a celiac and indeed, he complained
>of memory troubles and as it turned out he was indeed deficient in those
>vitamins.  You may want to check out the St. John's University archives .  A
>specific article I found was from Bill Vellios <[log in to unmask]>, subject:
>RELATED DISEASES TO CELIAC SPRUE.  Date:  Tue, 14 Jan. 1997.  Good luck.

>I just wanted to let you know that I have no history of CD in my family
>either.  However,  my paternal side of the family has lots and lots of
>diabetes!  Diabetes and CD share the same gene.  I don't have the specific
>scientific reference on hand.  I can dig it out for you if you want.  Let me
>know.  I hope this helps.

>I would investigate going gluten-free, and possibly also casein-free.
>
>Short term memory deficiencies have been linked to folic acid
>deficiencies. Folic acid deficiencies are a common sign of gluten intolerance.
>
>According to Chris M. Reading in _Your Family Tree Connection_ [Keats
>Publishing] the presence of Alzheimer's disease, and strokes, in a family
>is a red flag for gluten intolerance.
>
>You might also want to have a look at Beversdorf et. al. "A man with
>weight loss, ataxia, and confusion for 3 months" _Lancet_ 1996; 347: 446.
>
>Here's Ron's article on the connection:
>
>From: Ron Hoggan <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: 18-JUN-1996 23:58
>
>I see a connection between gluten intolerance and Alzheimer's. The logical
>progression from what I am suggesting is that cortical atrophy is an
>ongoing process, from as early as adolescence, where gliadins enter the
>blood through the leaky gut, swamp the blood brain barrier, and attach to
>the ICAM-1's in the microvessels. An autoimmune response to the gliadins
>results in the destruction of both the gliadin molecule, and the ICAM,
>which is followed by a tiny, tiny stroke. Repeat this process over many
>years of gluten ingestion, and you have the cortical damage that we see in
>Alzheimer's. The presence of aluminum at these sites may be the result of
>heavy salt ingestion (very common among gluten intolerance folks due to
>reductions in bile salts, due to atresia (partial or total blockage of the
>bile duct). As salt is a very common source of aluminum, and sodium is used
>in neurotransmission, I believe there is some basis for a hypothesis. I
>have some ideas about the fibulary tangles, but am not yet clear enough on
>the matter to discuss it.
>
>For many more articles by Ron see: http://www.panix.com/~donwiss/hoggan/
>
>Here's something from a doctor that studies gluten intolerance:
>
>Date:    Mon, 17 Jul 1995 12:07:27 -0500
>Sender:  Celiac/Coeliac Wheat/Gluten-Free List <[log in to unmask]>
>From:    "Joe Murray, M.D."
>Subject: Re: CELIAC Disease and dementia
>
>There are some reports of people with mental decline that resembled
>Alzheimer's disease who had celiac disease diagnosed around the same time.
>There is likely a connection though it is not clear how exactly.
>Joe Murray
>Not medical advice
>
>Here's an abstract from: http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis-rs3/p26-or05.html
>
>Collin P, Pirttila T, Nurmikko T, Somer H, Erila T, Keyrilainen O: CELIAC
>DISEASE, BRAIN ATROPHY, AND DEMENTIA. Neurology 1991; 41(3):372-5. Summary:
>We report five patients who developed dementia before age 60 and were
>subsequently found to have celiac disease (CD). Intellectual deterioration
>ranged from moderate to severe, and diffuse cerebral or cerebellar atrophy
>was found on brain CT. Diagnosis of CD was confirmed by findings of
>subtotal villous atrophy in jejunal biopsy specimens and positive serum
>reticulin and gliadin antibodies. Conspicuously, gastrointestinal symptoms
>were mild. The gluten-free diet failed to improve the neurologic disability
>except in one patient. CD is a multisystem disorder and may play a role in
>some cases of presenile dementia. Although the pathogenetic mechanisms are
>obscure, immunologic mechanisms are implicated.
>
>I have one friend Susan Owens <[log in to unmask]> that has gotten excellent
>results with her father's dementia by using a gluten-free and casein-free
>diet, along with epsom salt baths. He also had IBS which cleared up on this
>diet. You can write to her.
>
>I also can send more anecdotes.
>
>For more on this diet you can visit:
>
>  The Gluten-Free Page:        http://www.GFlinks.com/
>  The Paleolithic Diet Page:   http://www.PaleoDiet.com/
>  The No Milk Page:            http://www.NoMilk.com/