Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M.D. — Written by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D. on May 23, 2023
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement as well as mental and emotional changes. The exact cause is unknown, but researchers are investigating if autoimmune factors may play a role.
PD is a neurological disorder where nerve cells in your brain become damaged or begin to die. While the cause of PD is unknown, there’s evidence that the immune system might be involved.
Below, we’ll cover more about PD and how autoimmune activity could contribute to it. Keep reading to learn more.
What is an autoimmune disease?
Autoimmune diseases happen when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. This can cause inflammation and tissue damage in the affected areas of your body.
There are many different types of autoimmune diseases. Some that you may be familiar with include:
- lupus
- rheumatoid arthritis
- psoriasis
- type 1 diabetes
- multiple sclerosis
Is Parkinson’s disease considered an autoimmune disease?
The exact cause of PD is unknown, and it’s currently not considered an autoimmune disease. While there’s some evidence that immune factors might be associated with PD, there’s no evidence so far that these immune factors actually cause PD.
A 2017 study found that PD may have genetic factors in common with some autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and others.
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