More genes linked to osteoarthritis identified

Video Gallery

Knocking out knee pain

1: 03

Health

more>>

Cellphone use may reveal your dominant brain

New research suggests the dominant side of your brain may make the call on which ear you choose to use while talking on your cellphone.

High-frequency noise boosts math skills in study

Scientists report that they were able to improve the math-calculation skills of college students by buzzing their brains with doses of random high-frequency noise.

1 in 5 U.S. kids has a mental health disorder
As many as one in five American children under the age of 17 has a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, according to a new federal report.

Eyelash extension adhesives may cause bad reactions

Eye experts warn that the adhesives used to apply eyelash extensions can cause allergies and infections.

Look for new, improved sunscreen labels

New labeling laws for sunscreen will help American consumers choose the product that provides the best sun protection, experts say.

Many public pools contaminated with human waste

There are few things more inviting than a cool, clear pool on a hot summer day. But a new federal report will have you thinking twice before dipping a toe in the water.

Most Americans say no to smoking in their homes, cars

Drop by for a visit or share the drive -- but please, no smoking.

Yoga may help ease high blood pressure

People who follow the ancient practice of yoga may be getting an added health boost, with a new study suggesting it can fight high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension.

Fitness in middle age may help shield men from cancer later

Men who are physically fit in middle age have a lower risk of developing and dying from certain cancers, new research indicates.

New drug may help immune system fight cancer

An experimental drug that taps the power of the body's immune system to fight cancer is shrinking tumors in patients for whom other treatments have failed, an early study shows.

TUESDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have identified as many as eight new gene variants that may increase osteoarthritis risk, according to new research.

Osteoarthritis, which affects 40 percent of people aged 40 and older, is the most common form of arthritis. The study brings the total number of susceptibility genes identified in Europeans to 11.

"The health economic burden of osteoarthritis is increasing commensurate with obesity prevalence and longevity," study lead author John Loughlin, of Newcastle University in England, said.

"Our findings provide some insight into the genetics of arthritis and identify new pathways that might be amenable to future therapeutic intervention," he added in a news release from The Lancet, which published the study online July 2.

Osteoarthritis, which often causes pain and stiffness, is a degeneration of the cartilage in the joints.

In the study, researchers compared the genomes of more than 7,400 people with severe hip and knee osteoarthritis to more than 11,000 people who did not have the disease.

After identifying the most promising sites, the researchers replicated the findings in 7,500 people with osteoarthritis and 43,000 people from Iceland, Estonia, the Netherlands, and the U.K. who did not have the disease.

The study found up to eight new gene variants linked to osteoarthritis, including five that were significantly associated with the disease and three that were nearly significant.

Next steps include determining the function of the genes and how they interact with other genes, which may ultimately help in developing new treatments, researchers said.

That may yet prove difficult, researchers from University of Maryland School of Medicine said in an accompanying commentary in the journal.

"The challenge will be to connect the biology of these genes to the development and progression of osteoarthritis and to investigate the therapeutic potential of these pathways for disease prevention and treatment," they wrote.

More information

The U.S. National Institutes of Health provides more information on osteoarthritis.

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.