Neuropsychological Consequences of Gluten Consumption in NCGS V1.4
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Neuropsychological Consequences of Gluten Consumption in Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity
IRAS ID
234379
Contact name
Iain D Croall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Gluten is a protein found most commonly in wheat, barley and rye. Eating it causes problems in certain people due to genetic reasons; it gives some people problems in their gut (e.g. coeliac disease) and others problems in their brain (e.g. gluten ataxia). Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity is a recently described phenomenon characterised by people who self-report gut and/or non-gut symptoms (such as headaches and “brain fog”) after eating gluten, but in cases where known diseases have been ruled out. Despite accepted conditions like gluten ataxia showing that gluten can pathologically affect the brain, no study has yet investigated for any physical effect of gluten on the brain in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. We propose a pilot neuroimaging study to investigate its neurological presentation. We will investigate for changes in cerebral blood flow and cognitive functioning immediately after eating gluten.
Participants in the study will have non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, and specifically complain of brain-related symptoms shortly after eating gluten. Participants will take cognitive tests, and have a series of MRI scans. The scans will show us the structure of their brain, as well as how much blood is perfusing into it and which parts of the brain are active when they’re resting. They will then eat some gluten and repeat key parts of the testing (cognitive and MRI scans) when their symptoms begin.
By comparing information from the “before” and “after” gluten sessions, we can then see how eating the gluten has changed things like how much blood is perfusing into their brain and their cognitive functioning.
Other data gained will allow us to more generally characterise the brains of patients with this condition.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0007
Date of REC Opinion
15 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion