History & Culture

The Story of Celiac Disease — Past, Present, and the People Who Changed It

Celiac disease is not a modern condition. Descriptions of the disease date back nearly 2,000 years to the Greek physician Aretaeus of Cappadocia, who documented patients with chronic digestive symptoms he called "koiliakos" — meaning "suffering of the bowels." Yet it took until the mid-20th century for the connection between wheat and the disease to be scientifically established, and decades more before celiac disease gained the recognition it deserves.

This section traces the history of celiac disease discovery — from ancient medical texts through the pivotal work of Dutch pediatrician Willem-Karel Dicke during World War II, who noticed that children with celiac disease improved when bread was unavailable during the Dutch famine. His observation led to the identification of gluten as the trigger, transforming a mysterious wasting disease into a treatable condition.

We also profile the advocates, athletes, and public figures who have used their platforms to raise awareness about celiac disease. From Elisabeth Hasselbeck bringing celiac disease into living rooms across America to professional athletes proving that a gluten-free diet can fuel elite performance, these stories show how far the community has come — and how much further we still need to go.

Start with our history of celiac disease discovery for the full timeline, or read about Elisabeth Hasselbeck's impact on celiac awareness.

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