The thyroid is a gland in the lower neck that produces hormones that regulate many different body functions, including body temperature, body weight, and heart rate. In people with autoimmune hyperthyroid diseases such as Graves’, the immune system mistakenly generates an immune response against parts of the thyroid gland, resulting in the generation of autoantibodies. Some of the autoantibodies in people with Graves’ disease bind to and activate the thyroid gland, causing the overproduction of thyroid hormones. The symptoms of Graves’ disease are caused by both autoimmunity and hyperthyroidism.[1]
What causes Graves’ disease?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Graves' disease is caused by an autoimmune response in which the immune system produces autoantibodies that stimulate the thyroid gland, which leads to excessive thyroid hormone production. The condition results in symptoms that stem from both the autoimmune response and elevated thyroid hormone levels.