Is osteoarthritis age related?

Dr. Klosterman discusses whether age and osteoarthritis are related. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

Though old age is considered a risk factor of osteoarthritis, the joint disease is not something just to be expected as people age, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Aging changes the bone structure, which can increase the risk of osteoarthritis as people age, according to the NIH, and aging joint tissue also contributes to the risk of osteoarthritis.

It is more likely that someone will suffer from osteoarthritis as they get older – into their 70s and 80s – because their bodies have been used more, according to Premier Health Specialists’ (PHS) physicians. But, people in their 40s and 50s also can have the joint disease, which makes age a contributing factor but not a specific cause.

For more information about whether osteoarthritis is age related, talk with your doctor.

Learn more:

• Osteoarthritis affects many older people
• Why is osteoarthritis an age-related disease?
• What causes osteoarthritis?