Unmasking the Public Health Crisis of Graves’ Disease

Graves’ disease is a public health crisis affecting the way nearly 1 in 100 Americans, predominantly women, feel, function and are seen by others. By shedding light on the hidden realities of this misunderstood and underrepresented disease, the Unmask Graves' Disease campaign will create awareness that drives meaningful change.

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Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid, causing it to produce an excess of thyroid hormone. Graves’ disease affects more people than you may think: nearly 1 in 100 Americans and roughly 1 in 200 people worldwide.

WHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM ATTACKS

A CLOSER LOOK AT AN ISOLATING DISEASE

Behind the mask of Graves’ disease, many people feel alone, burdened by a chronic illness that drains them physically and emotionally.

The majority of those affected are women, who are 7-8 times more likely than men to live with Graves' disease.

Graves’ disease affects nearly 1 in 100 Americans(2) and is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States.(1)

GRAVES' DISEASE SYMPTOMS

In someone with Graves’ disease, their immune system attacks the thyroid gland, prompting it to produce an excess of thyroid hormones. This leads to an acceleration of their body’s functions, causing many of the symptoms, such as:(2)

Skin disease: lumpy reddish thickening of the skin in front of the shins

Muscle weakness

Weight loss

Heat intolerance and excessive sweating

Neuropsychiatric symptoms

Trouble sleeping

Eye disease: inflammation of the eyes, swelling of the tissues around the eyes and bulging of the eyes

Racing heartbeat

Hand tremors

GRAVES' DISEASE IMPACT

People with a family history of a thyroid
or autoimmune disease have a higher likelihood of developing Graves’ disease.(4)

Graves’ disease is linked to a higher risk of developing depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and sleep disorder.(5)

FILLING THE TREATMENT GAP:
URGENT NEED FOR BETTER MEDICINES

At the core of the Graves’ disease public health crisis is a treatment landscape that has seen no new medical advances in 75 years. There is no cure for Graves’ disease, and current drugs only help manage symptoms. New therapies that address the underlying autoimmunity causing the disease are desperately needed.

Currently available therapies focus on inhibiting thyroid hormone production or removing the gland, which often have undesirable, lifelong side effects.

Beta-blockers

Anti-thyroid medications

Radioactive iodine treatments

Surgery involving the complete removal of the thyroid

Researchers are exploring new approaches that target the underlying autoimmune pathology of Graves’ disease.

These potential therapies aim to remove the excess autoantibodies that drive the disease, with the goal of improving disease control and avoiding the challenges associated with current anti-thyroid drugs and surgery.

Reference

American Thyroid Association. Graves’ disease. Available at https://www.thyroid.org/graves-disease/. Accessed June 6. 2025.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Graves’ Disease. Available at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/graves-disease#:~:text=makes%20thyroid%20hormones.-,How%20common%20is%20Graves’%20disease?,nearly%201%20in%20100%20Americans.&text=About%204%20out%20of%205,are%20caused%20by%20Graves’%20disease. Accessed June 6. 2025.
Yale Medicine. Graves’ Disease Fact Sheet. Available at https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/graves-disease#:~:text=Graves’%20disease%20is%20an%20autoimmune,United%20States%20have%20Graves’%20disease. Accessed June 6. 2025.
Grixti L, Lane LC, Pearce SH. The genetics of Graves’ disease. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 25, 203–214 (2024).
Lee JY, Hong M, Jung YH, Sohn SY. Risk of psychiatric disorders in patients with graves’ disease: A nationwide population-based analysis.
J Affect Disord. 2025 May 9;385:119386.

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