Is ADHD and Coeliac Disease Connected?

Is ADHD and Coeliac Disease connected in some way? Strangely enough, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Coeliac Disease (CD), share some of the same symptoms. But how could a disorder of the brain, be connected to a disease of the gut? And, if they are connected, what could this mean for the climbing rates of both conditions?

It’s important to acknowledge though, that not everyone with ADHD also has CD, or vise versa. So, the main aim of this article, is to look at the symptoms shared by both conditions, and how this then relates to the connection between the gut and the brain.

As someone with both ADHD and Coeliac Disease, I’m certainly curious to find out if there’s a connection between them. So, let’s dive right in to find out!

Note: In UK English it’s spelled ‘Coeliac’. In American English, it’s spelled ‘Celiac’. Same complex disease, with equally complex spelling, so will be referred to as ‘CD’ in parts to avoid confusion.

Coeliac Disease

CD is an autoimmune disease that affects the small intestine, when an individual with the disease, consumes the protein ‘gluten’. The body sees gluten as an invader, sparking an inappropriate immune response, causing the body to attack itself.

Up to 30-50% of the general population carry the gene variants for CD, but only around 3% will develop CD. It’s a crazy and complex disease when you really think about it!

Undiagnosed CD can lead to vitamin deficiencies, malnutrition and a whole host of other health problems. The damage caused to the villi that line the intestine wall, results in numerous symptoms affecting many parts of the body, including the brain.

ADHD

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that produces symptoms of impulsiveness, restlessness, difficulty paying attention, memory problems, plus other behavioural traits that are persistent and interfere with daily life.

An individual with ADHD, can present with or without hyperactivity, and symptoms can also vary in severity from person to person. Science is just beginning to understand the genetic basis behind ADHD, and what role the environment plays, in this equally complex condition.

So what are the odds of having both ADHD and Coeliac Disease?

There’s no easy answer to this question at present. So in order to find out if there were other folk out there with both ADHD and CD like myself, I started by asking people in a similar situation. My first port of call was checking the Facebook support groups I belong to for adults with ADHD.

I put it out to the ADHD community if anyone else out there also had ADHD and CD. To my surprise, I wasn’t alone.

Turns out, there were many other adults out there, who also had both conditions or other gastrointestinal problems. And, as a former Special Education Teacher myself, I’ve taught so many children and youth with ADHD over the years, who’ve also had a variety of gastrointestinal problems.

Exact Numbers? could be anyone’s guess!

Finding the exact number of individuals who have both ADHD and CD is a difficult task for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, ADHD is still predominantly seen as a disorder of the brain. Until very recently, little regard has been given to its possible connection to the digestive system. Secondly, CD is currently under reported, due to a variety of reasons. Some individuals with CD, don’t have any major or obvious symptoms and therefore don’t receive a diagnosis.

Luckily, there are researchers in both the Neuroscience and Gastroenterology fields of medicine, combining efforts and looking into possible connections between the gut, and its effect on the brain.

examining the whole body, not just ‘parts’ in isolation

By using a combined approach across different disciplines of medicine, a disorder or disease is no longer seen in isolation. Because of this, connections can be made on how one part of the body, can affect another.

This combined approach to understanding disease, takes a closer look at examining biological and psychological connections, across large population groups. For example, a study in 2017, found that it was more common to receive a diagnosis of a behavioural disorder, before being diagnosed with CD.

To explain this further, an individual was more likely to be diagnosed with a disorder that affects the brain, BEFORE being diagnosed with a disease that affects the gut. Coincidentally, this is exactly what happened to me!

Furthermore, a recent study this year, carried out a systematic online literature review, comparing rates of CD to rates of psychiatric disorders. One of the outcomes of this review, was that a diagnosis of CD was significantly associated with an increased risk of an ADHD diagnosis.

Just how ADHD and CD are connected biologically, certainly needs further investigation. But, if there is a possible connection, what symptoms do they have in common?

Does ADHD and Coeliac Disease share any symptoms?

Interestingly enough, some of the symptoms of ADHD and CD overlap. But what’s more interesting, ADHD in children is now being stated as a possible symptom of CD.

According to the ‘Celiac Disease Foundation’ in America, there are more than 200 symptoms affecting the entire body, including the brain.

Obviously, there are too many symptoms to list here, but the following table outlines some symptoms, common to both CD and ADHD:

Coeliac Disease

Memory issues

Feeling overwhelmed

Fatigue

Difficulty concentrating

Irritability and behaviour issues

Brain fog

Depression

Anxiety

Sleep problems

Digestive problems leading to vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition

Poor absorption of essential vitamins in the gut leading to a lower production of serotonin

ADHD (click HERE for more info)

ADHD

Forgetfulness

Difficulty dealing with stress

Fatigue or tiredness

Attention difficulty

Restlessness and edginess

Mood swings

Depression

Anxiety

Sleep disorders

Gastrointestinal dysfunction

(New area of research)

Altered gut microbiome

(New area of research)

For a more in-depth look into the psychological impact of CD, click HERE.

the gut and its affect on the brain

Just how the gut influences the brain and behaviour, is no longer just of interest to the medical community alone. Individuals like myself, also want to see just how much influence the gut, has on mood and behaviour.

Additionally, across many fields of medicine, ‘dysbiosis’ (imbalance) of the gut, and its role in neurological conditions, is growing rapidly. It continues to be linked to symptoms of depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and more importantly, behaviour.

Read more about ADHD and Dysbiosis of the Gut HERE.

Not only can dysbiosis of the gut contribute to neurological symptoms, a lower diversity of microbes in the gut microbiome, has also been found in small studies of individuals with ADHD.

I’ve had my gut microbiome tested twice now, and my initial results were consistent with these findings.

The diversity of microbes in my gut was much lower in comparison to what’s considered ‘the healthy range’ group.

Because this is such an evolving area of science, it’s still too early to tell if it’s just a coincidence, or something that could ultimately change the face of treating ADHD.

Testing for Coeliac disease following an ADHD Diagnosis

As more research emerges, on the connection between the gut microbiome and disorders of the brain, rates of ADHD continue to climb.

Rates of CD are also climbing, and although it may be completely coincidental, it certainly warrants further investigation. One study has even gone as far to suggest, that CD be included in the symptom checklist for ADHD.

Gluten can be hiding in places we never expected

IMPORTANT to note

So, if you are experiencing gastrointestinal problems, with or without a diagnosis of ADHD, or you’re concerned about a family member who is, please seek medical advice so you can be tested for CD.

If you just want more information about CD or ADHD, and where to look for help, check out the following link HERE.

more research Please!

If there is a relationship between the two conditions, it would make sense to screen for CD following a diagnosis of ADHD, at any age.

Screening for CD, could help establish if there’s an underlying cause exacerbating the symptoms of ADHD. Additionally, it could offer insight into whether symptoms could be reduced, reversed, or even prevented, through a better understanding of how the gut influences the brain and behaviour.

The relationship between our gut health and our brain, could just end up, being far more significant than we could ever have imagined.

So, the bottom line is, ANY ‘breakthrough’, around how a disease of the gut could ultimately affect our brain, would be welcomed with opened arms right here!

This article is based on the author’s personal story and SHOULD never be used as a replacement for professional medical advice or treatment. If you are concerned for your own health, or the health of a loved one, please seek medical advice promptly from a licensed medical practitioner or professional.