Why is osteoarthritis an age-related disease?

Although older age is the greatest risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), OA is not an inevitable consequence of growing old. Radiographic changes of OA, particularly osteophytes, are common in the aged population, but symptoms of joint pain may be independent of radiographic severity in many older ad...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology 2010-02, Vol.24 (1), p.15-26
Main Authors: Shane Anderson, A., MD, Fellow in Rheumatology, Loeser, Richard F., MD, Professor of Internal Medicine and Chief
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
ageing
Aging - pathology
Aging - physiology
articular cartilage
Cartilage, Articular - pathology
Cartilage, Articular - physiopathology
cell senescence
Cellular Senescence - physiology
elderly
Humans
menisci
osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis - epidemiology
Osteoarthritis - pathology
Osteoarthritis - physiopathology
oxidative stress
Oxidative Stress - physiology
Rheumatology
Risk Factors
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Summary:Although older age is the greatest risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), OA is not an inevitable consequence of growing old. Radiographic changes of OA, particularly osteophytes, are common in the aged population, but symptoms of joint pain may be independent of radiographic severity in many older adults. Ageing changes in the musculoskeletal system increase the propensity to OA but the joints affected and the severity of disease are most closely related to other OA risk factors such as joint injury, obesity, genetics and anatomical factors that affect joint mechanics. The ageing changes in joint tissues that contribute to the development of OA include cell senescence that results in development of the senescent secretory phenotype and ageing changes in the matrix including formation of advanced glycation end-products that affect the mechanical properties of joint tissues. An improved mechanistic understanding of joint ageing will likely reveal new therapeutic targets to slow or halt disease progression. The ability to slow progression of OA in older adults will have enormous public health implications given the ageing of our population and the increase in other OA risk factors such as obesity.
ISSN:1521-6942
1532-1770
DOI:10.1016/j.berh.2009.08.006