How does myasthenia gravis cause muscle weakness?

Written by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD | June 9, 2023

How does myasthenia gravis cause muscle weakness?

Category: Symptoms

In myasthenia gravis, self-reactive antibodies target proteins that are needed for proper communication between nerves and muscles, impairing the process involved in coordinated muscle contraction. As such, patients experience symptoms of muscle weakness and fatigue.

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About the Author

Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Lindsey is a senior science writer for Bionews with a PhD in neuroscience from Emory University. There, she was awarded a predoctoral fellowship from the American Epilepsy Society to study the role of new therapeutic approaches for treatment of resistant forms of epilepsy. She also spent time as a postdoctoral researcher exploring the role of inflammation in epilepsy. With a passion for ensuring that science is accessible to all, Lindsey joined Bionews as a science writer in 2022.