 [ Symptoms ] who is at risk for hypothyroidism [ Disease ] women particularly older women are more likely to develop hypothyroidism than men you are also more likely to develop hypothyroidism if you have a close family member with an autoimmune disease other risk factors include race being white or asian age growing older prematurely graying hair autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes multiple sclerosis rheumatoid arthritis celiac disease addison is disease pernicious anemia or vitiligo bipolar disorder down syndrome turner syndrome