Why they wear and tear with age..? Do repair mechanism get impaired during old age?
Suboptimal nutrition of articular cartilage as the metaphyseal bones get osteoporotic and weak.
Cumulative articular cartilage damage over the years following various reasons like knee deformities, posture, injuries etc..
Lack of body capability of formation of Proteoglycan, hyaluronic acid and collagen among other structures of cartilage.
Water the major constituent may be less making overall structure less viscoelastic and more prone to injuries.
Weak surrounding muscles and ligaments that result in more and abnormal load over a specific part of cartilage leading to wear (like commoner medial compartment in osteoarthritis)
There are many causes and only cartilage problem is one of many and many causes work together to accelerate an ongoing repetitive damage.
Improved understanding of ageing-related mechanisms that promote OA could lead to the discovery of new targets for therapies that aim to slow or stop the progression of this chronic and disabling condition.
Article Ageing and the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis
- Badges
- Science method