evidence: No scientific evidence indicates that parasites are the key cause of autoimmunity [...] A TikTok video posted on 23 June 2023 claimed that "the number 1 indicator of parasites is actually an autoimmune condition". This claim was made by Austin Lake, who introduced himself as a "functional medicine practitioner" in the video. Lake’s LinkedIn profile indicated that he holds a doctorate in physical therapy, but no qualifications to practice medicine. [...] Overall, certain genes, viral infections, and environmental factors have been associated with various autoimmune diseases. However, there’s no evidence supporting Lake’s claim that "the number 1 indicator of parasites is actually an autoimmune condition".