With ageing, musculoskeletal tissues show increased bone fragility, loss of cartilage and disc resilience, reduced ligament elasticity, loss of muscular strength, and fat redistribution decreasing the ability of the tissues to carry out their normal functions. The loss of mobility and physical independence due to degenerative musculoskeletal conditions can be particularly devastating in the elderly population, not just physically and psychologically, but also in terms of increased mortality rates. As the population aged 65 and over is growing at a much faster rate than all other age groups globally, the burden of many common geriatric and degenerative musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis, disc degenerative diseases and sarcopenia is expected to rise significantly. Despite recent medical advances in diagnosis and treatment, there is still a lack of effective therapeutic options that can reverse the pathology of these diseases owing to the incomplete understanding of the exact molecular pathological mechanisms of many degenerative and geriatric musculoskeletal disorders. Henceforth, there is an urgent need to study and elucidate the detailed mechanisms of these diseases.
This Research Topic aims at addressing the current level of scientific knowledge relating to the factors contributing to the development and progression of common degenerative and geriatric disorders of the musculoskeletal system including but not limited to osteoarthritis, disc degeneration, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia.
Researchers are encouraged to submit original research articles and reviews to this Research Topic that cover topics about but not limited to the followings:
- Epidemiology of degenerative and geriatric disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
- Molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in these diseases.
- Biomarkers for the occurrence and deterioration of these diseases.
- Tools for disease severity evaluation.
- Development of innovative therapeutic strategies based on the newly discovered molecular mechanism
With ageing, musculoskeletal tissues show increased bone fragility, loss of cartilage and disc resilience, reduced ligament elasticity, loss of muscular strength, and fat redistribution decreasing the ability of the tissues to carry out their normal functions. The loss of mobility and physical independence due to degenerative musculoskeletal conditions can be particularly devastating in the elderly population, not just physically and psychologically, but also in terms of increased mortality rates. As the population aged 65 and over is growing at a much faster rate than all other age groups globally, the burden of many common geriatric and degenerative musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis, disc degenerative diseases and sarcopenia is expected to rise significantly. Despite recent medical advances in diagnosis and treatment, there is still a lack of effective therapeutic options that can reverse the pathology of these diseases owing to the incomplete understanding of the exact molecular pathological mechanisms of many degenerative and geriatric musculoskeletal disorders. Henceforth, there is an urgent need to study and elucidate the detailed mechanisms of these diseases.
This Research Topic aims at addressing the current level of scientific knowledge relating to the factors contributing to the development and progression of common degenerative and geriatric disorders of the musculoskeletal system including but not limited to osteoarthritis, disc degeneration, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia.
Researchers are encouraged to submit original research articles and reviews to this Research Topic that cover topics about but not limited to the followings:
- Epidemiology of degenerative and geriatric disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
- Molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in these diseases.
- Biomarkers for the occurrence and deterioration of these diseases.
- Tools for disease severity evaluation.
- Development of innovative therapeutic strategies based on the newly discovered molecular mechanism