Among the many health conditions that can affect the immune system, celiac disease is unique. The body's reaction to gluten—a group of proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye—triggers not only stomach problems but a chain of events that reach all the way to the brain. The relationship between celiac disease and the brain is important because our gut interacts with our immune system, resulting in a change in our mental health.

Research studies have shown that people with celiac disease have higher rates of mental health problems compared to the general population. In a nationwide study done in Sweden, researchers found that over a period of about 12 years, 16.5% of children with celiac disease were diagnosed with a mental health condition, compared to 14.1% of children without celiac disease. This means that children with celiac disease had a 19% higher chance of developing mental health problems.

This higher risk occurs across different age groups and continues into adulthood. Interestingly, the risk is highest right after diagnosis, with a 70% higher risk during the first year after celiac disease is diagnosed. This suggests that the emotional impact of learning you have a lifelong illness, along with the challenges of switching to a gluten-free diet, may contribute to the initial increase in mental health symptoms.

Research has identified several mental health conditions that appear more frequently in people with celiac disease.

A review of studies on depression in adults with celiac disease found that depression is more common and/or more severe in adults with celiac disease than in adults without celiac disease.

Similarly,

© Psychology Today