Stanford research examines why women are at greater risk of autoimmune disease

According to the National Institutes of Health, 8% of the U.S. population is living with an autoimmune disease. Out of those people, 80% are women.

Stanford University researcher Dr. Howard Chang says for decades researchers and doctors have been trying to figure out why women are at a greater risk of having an autoimmune disease. It’s the focus of his latest research. Chang, who is a dermatologist and a professor of dermatology and genetics, was a guest on Thursday’s edition of “Closer Look.”

Since women have two X chromosomes and men have one X and one Y chromosome, Chang’s research suggests a woman’s second X chromosome shuts down when Xist RNA is produced, therefore making women more susceptible to autoimmune diseases.