New Study Shows Celiac Disease on the Rise, Striking Later in Life

It's actually fairly common knowledge that celiac is NOT a "genetic" disease anymore than Type 1 diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, MS, etc. are. Not everyone born with the genes for these diseases gets them. And other people get them with low risk genes. They are multi-factorial diseases. Generally speaking, autoimmune diseases occur in genetically *susceptible* individuals after exposure to the "perfect storm" of triggers and/or events. In some cases environment may play a larger role than genes, in others it's the opposite. In identical twins (same DNA), both twins only have Celiac 70-80% of the time. In a truly genetic disorder without environmental modifiers (such as cystic fibrosis), BOTH twins will have the disease 100% of the time. And this also dispels the myth that you are "born with" Celiac even if you don't show symptoms until later. Not true for most cases, or at least a subset. Now we need to find out WHY Celiac and other autoimmune diseases are increasing. Gene pools don't change in 50 years, and increased diagnosis doesn't explain this study either. Something in our environment is making those with the genes that *CAN* cause autoimmunity to become sick.

One thing that may be going on is that environmental contaminants can interfere with the gut. There is some preliminary research showing possible effects of contaminants on the gut, but more needs to be done.

I wonder how much of the increase is a true increase in occurrences or more simply better screening tests. We hear so often about how it took years for many celiac patients to be diagnosed with gluten intolerance.

The data during this transition period to better screening can't be compared directly to data with previous screening methods.

I agree as a celiac disease mother with two children diagnosed as celiac disease at 16 years. At 14 both children required an epipen for different allergens. With my second child we watch the disease come and get him, anemia, allergies, rising ttg and then celiac.

We took much of the gluten out of his diet to see if that might prevent the onset but that didn't work. Interestingly, both these children had Kawaski disease as children ( a very rare and sometimes fatal disease). Celiac was a 16th birthday present for both, there is definite trigger.

Research is also showing a similar increase in children diagnosed with ASD. Another disease with a known genetic link and unknown environmental trigger. Twins results similar to that of celiac disease.

I am 52 years old. I began having digestive issues about 8 years ago after coming off the Atkins diet which I had been on for 6 months. I was diagnosed with IBS 2 years ago. After reading an article about celiac disease, I began to wonder. My female doctor ran a blood test after I consulted with him and he tells me I have a lot of gluten antibodies in my blood as well as thyroiditis. I am going gluten free for about 2 months but still having some issues.

I enjoyed the info. I am 80 years old. 5 years ago they found I had celiac disease. I have been close to death off and on every since. I went gluten-free 3 years ago (which is hard to do). I have 2 girls and 2 grandsons that have it also, and 2 granddaughters who do not. I wish there was something I could do to help stop it.