Effect of Adherence to a Gluten-Free Diet on Cognitive and Motor Dual-Task Performance in Adolescents Diagnosed With Celiac Disease

The aim of this cross-sectional observational study is to comprehensively examine the effects of adherence to a gluten-free diet on cognitive, motor, and psychosocial functions in adolescents aged 8-18 years diagnosed with celiac disease. In this context, dual-task gait performance, cognitive processing speed and attention, working memory and executive functions, muscle strength, quality of life, and fatigue levels of individuals with celiac disease who are adherent or non-adherent to a gluten-free diet will be compared with those of healthy peers. In addition, sleep patterns, pubertal development, socioeconomic indicators, and serological markers will be taken into account to evaluate the unique effects of diet adherence on neurocognitive and functional outcomes. All assessments will be conducted in accordance with a predefined standardized protocol. The order of measurement instruments will be randomized to minimize potential bias. Inclusion criteria will consist of being between 8 and 18 years of age, having a celiac disease diagnosis confirmed by serology, being followed with this diagnosis for at least six months, and obtaining written informed consent from both the participant and their parent/guardian. For the healthy control group, participants must be within the same age range and have no history of chronic neurological, psychiatric, or gastroenterological conditions. Data analysis will be performed using SPSS