Goodbye, Knee Surgery? Scientists Regrow Lost Cartilage in Major Arthritis Breakthrough
In a development that could change life for millions of people with creaky, painful knees, Stanford Medicine scientists have successfully regrown lost cartilage and reversed arthritis in older mice – using a drug that targets a single aging-related protein.
Even more promising: when researchers tested the same treatment on human cartilage samples removed during knee replacement surgeries, the tissue began producing new, healthy cartilage.
The findings, published in the journal Science, raise the possibility that one day a simple injection or even a pill could repair damaged joints rather than replace them.
The Problem: Millions Suffer, Few Options Exist
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting about one in five adults in the United States alone. The diseas...