A Genetic Study Highlights New Routes To OA Treatment

(Newswire.net — September 26, 2022) Orlando, FL — Researchers have been carrying out studies to investigate more into the potential treatments for osteoarthritis, which is highly prevalent nowadays.

A study has shown new genes and biological pathways associated with osteoarthritis that could aid in identifying starting points for new medications. 

This largest genetic study of osteoarthritis to date uncovered 52 new genetic changes associated with the disease. It is worth noting that it doubles the number of genetic regions linked with the disabling condition.

The findings of this interesting research were published in Nature Genetics. 

In this research, scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, GSK and their collaborators looked into the genomes of more than 77,000 people with osteoarthritis. They found new genes and biological pathways associated with osteoarthritis, which could aid in identifying starting points for new medicines. 

In the U.K., nearly ten million individuals suffer from osteoarthritis. This degenerative joint disease occurs when the joints get damaged, stop moving as they normally should, and become painful. While it has remained incurable, there are disease management remedies like the use of certain medications. 

Around the globe, osteoarthritis is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disease and the top cause of disability. 

The investigators in this research analysed not just the whole genomes of over 77,000 people with osteoarthritis but also of over 370,000 healthy people using patient data from the UK Biobank resource and the arcOGEN study. 

It is worth noting that the team looked into a number of different types of osteoarthritis, including in hip and knee joints. 

“Osteoarthritis is a very common, disabling disease with no cure. We have conducted the largest study of osteoarthritis to date, and found over 50 new genetic changes that increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis,” said Professor Eleftheria Zeggini, previously from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and now based at Helmholtz Zentrum München in Germany.

“This is a major step forward in developing treatments to help the millions of people suffering from the disease.”

More studies are still being carried out to look into the various aspects of osteoarthritis and how it can be managed better. Aside from making dietary and lifestyle improvements, there are also some remedies like glucosamine being widely studied today.

This amino sugar is actually used as a safer alternative to pain relievers. It is popularized by its ability to repair joint cartilage damage and lessen joint pain. 

Today, it is obtained widely through the use of formulas like VitaBreeze Glucosamine (www.amazon.com/Glucosamine-Chondroitin-Turmeric-Dietary-Supplement/dp/B00DUMO9X4).