A study led by Stanford Medicine researchers has found that an injection blocking a protein linked to aging can reverse the natural loss of knee cartilage in older mice. The same treatment also stopped arthritis from developing after knee injuries that resemble ACL tears, which are common among athletes and recreational exercisers. Researchers note that an oral version of the treatment is already being tested in clinical trials aimed at treating age-related muscle weakness.
Rafaella Rogatto De Faria was nearing the end of her PhD when her adviser proposed a fresh project. The idea was to analyse genetic, imaging and surgical-outcome data, to find biomarkers that could help to identify which people with osteoarthritis would respond best to knee-replacement surgery. De Faria, an athlete and a biomedical engineer at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, knew the profound impact of cartilage and joint injuries on people's lives,