Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a form of adult-onset autoimmune diabetes that resembles type 2 diabetes. However, it shows a later onset and slowly progression towards insulin requirement. LADA accounts for 5.9% to 9.2% in newly diagnosed patients with phenotypic type 2 diabetes in China. The pathogenesis of LADA has become one of the hot research topics in recent years. Progresses have been made in aspects such as genetic susceptibility, autoimmune reaction, and environmental factors and so on. Studies show that non-HLA gene, cellular immunity, and nonspecific immune reaction etc. are relevant to LADA. Thorough research on the pathogenesis of LADA is helpful for understanding it's clinical characteristics, early prevention and diagnosis, proper treatment, and even exploring new therapeutic methods.