Final answer:
Lupus, also known as systemic lupus erythematosus, is an example of an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the body's tissues, leading to inflammation and damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues and organs, failing to distinguish between self and non-self. One example of an autoimmune disease is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), also known simply as lupus.
This disease is systemic, meaning it can affect many different tissues and organs, and causes the immune system to attack the body's cells and tissues, resulting in inflammation and potential damage across various parts of the body. It differs from diseases like Alzheimer's, which is not autoimmune in nature. Autoimmune conditions, including lupus, cannot usually be cured, but symptoms can often be managed with treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressants.