#39 - 🧠 Your brain on gluten + apps to try

Hey readers! 👋

February is shaping up to be a fascinating month for our community. We've got some genuinely useful updates this week, from practical app tools that'll make your grocery runs easier to research that's helping us understand the connection between celiac disease and brain health. Plus, there's news about a clinical trial that's actively recruiting, and some thoughtful perspectives on managing celiac disease in situations most of us rarely consider. Let's dive in!

Poorer brain health in celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders is associated with a specific antibody triggered by gluten offers important insights into the neurological aspects of gluten-related conditions. A UK study published in the Annals of Neurology found that persistent antibodies against transglutaminase-6 (TG6) are linked to worse neurological outcomes, including accelerated brain atrophy, higher depression rates, and reduced physical functioning. – Beyond Celiac

What makes this particularly useful is the practical application: TG6 testing can serve as a monitoring tool for both celiac and non-celiac patients. The research showed that strictly following a gluten-free diet resulted in decreases in TG6 levels, giving patients and clinicians a measurable way to track progress.

This isn't about causing alarm, but rather about having better tools to understand what's happening in our bodies and how our dietary choices are working.

Several resources caught our attention this week that can genuinely simplify daily management of a gluten-free lifestyle.

Q&A with Erin Heidenreich, Dietitian Lead for the Spoonful Gluten-Free App introduces a free barcode-scanning app developed by dietitians with celiac expertise. The app uses a simple color-coded system: green for gluten-free, yellow for potentially problematic ingredients, and red for items containing gluten. – Celiac Disease Foundation

Heidenreich, who has celiac disease herself, emphasizes something worth repeating: working with a dietitian who specializes in celiac disease is essential. The app is a helpful tool, but it's not a replacement for professional guidance.

Children's National Hospital's Gluten-Free Diet App offers a comprehensive resource center including ingredient safety lists, recipes with cooking videos, nutrition education, a monthly podcast, and expert-led seminars. It's designed for families but useful for anyone looking for reliable, curated information. – Children's National Hospital

For our Canadian readers, the February 2026 roundup from A Canadian Celiac Blog highlights GLUTAX, a new app designed to streamline tax deduction record-keeping for gluten-free foods. The post also notes that a University of Alberta survey found 43% of celiac children still experience symptoms, an important reminder that diagnosis is just the beginning of the journey. – A Canadian Celiac Blog

The FB102-301 phase-2 trial is now recruiting adults aged 18-70 who have been on a gluten-free diet for at least a year. FB102 is a monoclonal antibody designed to block immune signals triggered by gluten. The 33-week study includes eight IV infusions, with 80% of participants receiving the active drug. Compensation and travel assistance are provided. – Celiac Disease Foundation

For those curious about what participating in celiac research actually involves, Mass General Hospital for Children shares a participant's experience with their 14-day gluten challenge study. Lisa, a participant, reported fatigue as her main symptom but found the experience positive overall. – Mass General Hospital for Children

The iCureCeliac platform continues to generate valuable insights from patient-contributed data, including findings that social adversities are linked to poorer disease control in children and that symptom flares are common during the postpartum period. – Celiac Disease Foundation

Gluten Free Watchdog conducted informal tests on the updated 2026 Nima Sensor, finding that sampling remains a critical challenge. Thick, sticky foods need dilution and truly pea-sized samples, while oats and spices require careful preparation. – Gluten Free Watchdog

The National Celiac Association's April 2025 news roundup (Ed: still relevant and worth reading) highlights that ultra-short celiac disease, where villous atrophy is limited to the duodenal bulb, affects 9.2% of patients globally and is often missed with single biopsies. Taking at least four bulb biopsies detected 60% more cases than taking only one. – National Celiac Association

Celiac Disease Beyond the Western World challenges the misconception that celiac disease is primarily a Western condition. Rising wheat consumption, modern wheat varieties, and industrial food processing have increased gluten exposure globally, while limited diagnostic resources and atypical symptoms have masked the condition in many regions. – Celiac.com

A sobering piece from Celiac.com, When Gluten-Free Food Is Unavailable, highlights how humanitarian crises can turn celiac disease into a medical emergency when safe foods become unavailable. It's a reminder that gluten-free food is essential for survival, not a lifestyle choice.

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