A new study by researchers at the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the UNC School of Medicine has identified 13 risk genes that can increase chances for developing osteoarthritis, jumpstarting research that could lead to new, targeted treatments.
Osteoarthritis is a painful condition in which cartilage – the protective cushioning between the joints – gradually breaks down. The progressive joint disease, which affects over 32 million people in the United States, can eventually cause bone-on-bone friction, joint stiffness, and pain with every movement.
Multiple factors can influence a person’s risk of developing osteoarthritis, including injury, obesity, aging, and genetics. Recent research has found that nearly half of the risk for osteoarthritis is genetic, which has raised interest in using genetic data to develop a therapy that can stop joint tissue from degrading further.
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