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There was so much interest in this topic, almost as many inquiries as replies. Most of the replies confirmed that there was a connection between Parkinson's and Celiac. They had personal experience or witnessed it in a relative. However, there is little clinical evidence to support it. Unanimously, they felt that a GF diet would minimize the neurological effect. Most people recommended checking D and B vitamin levels, others suggested checking other environmental toxins like Mercury, ferritin count, or drug-induced  Parkinsonism. For me, the most pertinent suggestion was that it might be "gluten ataxia" (see below). Here are some of the highlights:

It's called gluten-ataxia. It's not actually celiac disease. You might have both. My mom has advanced PD. Has had it for about 30 years. I have celiac (and so does one of mom's cousins.) I took an article to the neurologist to ask him about the chances of my mom having gluten-ataxia and not PD, and he said that the medication she's on for PD would NOT work if it wasn't PD. He was aware of gluten-ataxia, and didn't sound like he was blowing me off. If anything, when my mom was taking care of herself, she micromanaged her protein intake for breakfast and lunch, because protein in the blood earlier in the day prohibits the absorption of the carbo levadopa meds, which is a protein. She used to be able to tell you how many grams were in what and limited her protein intake until dinner.

She's 90 years old and is in the care of home attendants. There is absolutely no way I could even get her to follow a gluten-free diet from long distance. We're having enough trouble getting her to take her PD pills regularly, and she hallucinates if she doesn't. The neurologist said that PD isn't necessarily inherited, but that once someone in the family has a neurological disease, the chances increase that family members will get something. I understand your concern. I'm 65. I tend to walk someone off the sidewalk or into a wall, if I'm walking next to them, and that was my mom's first symptom, when she was about 60. She somehow didn't walk straight. My husband says I'm always cutting him off when we're out walking.  It just happens. My mom never had the shakes. She has rigidity, and dyskonesia, depending upon the medication absorption at the time. She's at a balance right now, good most of the day, but it doesn't last forever. Meds need tweaking every now and then. She's been on all of them, except the patch. A surgeon wanted to do the brain operation on her a few years ago...deep brain stimulation, but we refused. It is mainly designed to stop tremors, which she never had, and it was way too dangerous at her age. He was on tv. He was just trying to add her to his list as the oldest patient who had it. Michael J. Fox had something similar and it stopped working.
This doctor has written extensively about the links between Celiac and neurological impairments.  http://renegadeneurologist.com/
I believe (based on some research) that Parkinson's is also related to free iron being stored in the brain. I have found that my nerves work a whole lot better since I've been lowering my ferritin count.
In the Oct. 2010 issue of Worst Pills, Best Pills, a newsletter on medications, is an article on drug-induced  Parkinsonism. It's based in part on a recent study reported in Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, which found that 7.9 percent of patients studied had clear, unequivocal evidence of this. They included a list of suspect drugs, which includes several different types.
I shake as well as being celiac.  I went to a neurologist who put me through a series of physical maneuvers and said what I have is a benign essential, probably familial, tremor.  Both my parents had intentional tremor (like when you extend your hand with a cup to tea or to hold a hymnbook and shake), and my mother has a head wobble.  Parkinson he said is a resting tremor, usually a pill rolling movement between thumb and index finger.  He also told me if you have Parkinson you can't pivot; you pick up your foot and turn it.  It might be worth getting a neurologist to look at you.  He also said getting adequate sleep (8-9 hrs) minimizes some of this.
If you haven't had your D (OH) levels checked, that might be a good place to start. http://www.bit.ly/ahuzMP%20 The first of these new studies suggests that maintaining high levels of serum vitamin D "provides protection against Parkinson's disease."
I do know of a link to Parkinson's disease I have tremors in my hands and legs that improved after going gf. I would check out Dr Green's Celiac center website I is from Columbia University in NYC. The neurologist I saw said there is a neurological component especially if you had CD for a long time before going GF.
I have not heard that anything can reverse Parkinson's, although if it is just starting that may be possible.  Perhaps finding all the causes can help.  Heredity is a major factor, but various toxins probably start it. A 100% GF diet may do the trick. Mercury is a common factor.  That is why so many people in dental offices eventually have Parkinson's.  Removing silver/mercury fillings may help if a specialist is used that can minimize release of mercury into your system. Mercury from the "silver" fillings is constantly eroding and going through the body. Other toxins and viruses are implicated.  Particular concerns are pesticides, and probably a great range of organic compounds from plastics, Teflon, cleaners, water bottles, etc. I have seen nothing on the virus action.  This might be a case where probiotics could help.  Those of us with CD get a very out of balance set of microbes in our guts.



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