Is Parkinson’s an Autoimmune Disease? What the Evidence Shows
Is Parkinson’s an Autoimmune Disease? What the Evidence Shows Parkinson’s disease is classified as a neurological disorder. Doctors do not list it as an autoimmune disease. Still, a growing body of research shows that the immune system reacts to proteins in the Parkinson’s brain. That finding has led some scientists to ask whether the immune system helps drive the disease. Parkinson’s is not an established autoimmune disease; it is a neurological disorder with immune involvement that researchers are still working to explain. If you or someone you love has Parkinson’s, that distinction shapes how you think about diagnosis, treatment, and the headlines you read. The stakes are real. Parkinson’s affects about 3% of people by age 65 and up to 5% of those over 85 . Knowing what the immune evidence does and does not show can help you ask your care team better questions. Key Takeaways Parkinson’s is officially a neurological disorder caused by the lo...