I've always believed that if I eat right and exercise every day, I wouldn't develop arthritis. Now the X-rays show me how wrong I was in that idea! So what is it about aging that brings on osteoarthritis?
This is a question that has baffled researchers and scientists for decades now. We know that diet, nutrition, and activity level all play key roles in joint health. But there are biochemical and genetic influences as well. For example, cells called fibroblasts needed for tissue repair stop forming sooner in older adults compared with younger people. Cartilage cells in younger adults also produce more immune cells such as interleukin-1(IL-1) and IL-7 needed for normal inflammatory responses and healing. It appears that there are also age-related changes in the cartilage matrix. Fewer growth factors and more products designed to break down collagen are also observed in the cells of older adults. Even knowing these changes can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis doesn't answer the question of what causes these biochemical effects linked with aging? Most likely, the development of osteoarthritis is a multifactorial (meaning many causes) event. Hopefully, current and future studies will help unravel the mysteries of osteoarthritis and set us on a path of prevention.
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