Addison’s disease can affect anyone, but it’s most often seen in people aged 30 to 50. People with a rare inherited condition called autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome, where the immune system mistakenly attacks various body parts, are much more likely to get Addison’s disease. This syndrome often affects areas like the adrenal glands, parathyroid glands, and mucous membranes, though other parts of the body can also be impacted.
People with certain autoimmune diseases are at a higher risk for developing Addison’s disease. These include:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Pernicious anemia
- Graves’ disease
- Chronic thyroiditis
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
- Vitiligo
- Myasthenia gravis