Does Aging Cause Osteoarthritis?

Aging is a known risk factor for developing osteoarthritis. The disease is not an inevitable consequence of aging, but there is a strong correlation between age and increasing evidence of osteoarthritis. Actually, 70% of people over the age of 70 have x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis but only half ever develop osteoarthritis symptoms.

• Does aging directly cause osteoarthritis?
• What age-related changes happen to cartilage?
• What changes occur during aging that may explain the development of osteoarthritis?

The disease is often explained as the result of wear and tear on the joints, but there may be a more thorough explanation of what happens to cartilage and joints during the aging process that causes or increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Read more in Does Aging Cause Osteoarthritis?

Related Resources:

• Osteoarthritis 101
• Anyone Can Develop Osteoarthritis
• What Causes Osteoarthritis Pain in a Joint?

Join the Discussion:

• Join Us in Our Osteoarthritis Forum / Message Board

_{Photo by Joseph Jean Rolland Dubé (iStockphoto)}