Arthritis Research – Keeping Canadians Moving
National Arthritis Awareness Month - September 2010
A national park on a remote wilderness island in northwestern Ontario – a place untrampled by humans and untouched by modern civilization. It sounds like an ideal refuge for moose.
It is, unless you're one of the many moose living on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. These moose, it was recently reported, develop osteoarthritis, making them vulnerable to wolves, their main predator.
The moose were found to have osteoarthritis – the same disease that affects humans. It primarily attacked the hip and spine in these gentle giants.
The scientists who made this discovery believe that it may help explain the origins of osteoarthritis in humans. Their findings suggest that, within this moose population, the osteoarthritis resulted from poor nutrition early in life. This conclusion indicates that human osteoarthritis may likewise be linked to poor nutrition in the womb or throughout childhood. There are several known risk factors for osteoarthritis, including genetics, joint injury, excess body weight and now, perhaps nutrition.
For moose, arthritis is a death sentence. They need all four legs to survive. Wolves easily pick off these arthritic moose.
Osteoarthritis may not be a death sentence for humans, but for many sufferers, it can feel like a fate worse than death. It causes chronic pain and disability. It can lead to depression. It confines people to their homes, cutting them off from their families and friends and dramatically reducing their quality of life.
But there's hope. It lies in research being funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and other organizations in Canada. This research is increasing our understanding of arthritis and helping find new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat this painful and debilitating condition.
The Facts
- Arthritis is a category of disease that affects the joints and includes more than 100 conditions, such as osteoarthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, gout and scleroderma.
- According to a recent report by the Public Health Agency of Canada, more than 4.2 million Canadians aged 15 and older have arthritis.
- The most common type of arthritis in Canada is osteoarthritis, affecting 1 in 10 Canadians.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is the second most common type of arthritis, affecting 1 in 100 Canadians. It is an autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system attacks healthy joints, resulting in damage to cartilage, bone, tendons and ligaments. It causes disability in the majority of cases and may even cause premature death.
- Arthritis is not just a disease of the elderly. It can strike anyone at anytime, regardless of age or health. In 2000, three of every five people with arthritis were younger than 65.
- Arthritis affects nearly twice as many Canadian women as men. It is also one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in Aboriginal peoples.
- Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in Canada. It costs Canadians more than $6.4 billion each year in health-care expenses and lost productivity.
Sources: Public Health Agency of Canada, Life with Arthritis in Canada : A personal and public health challenge; Canadian Arthritis Network, Arthritis Facts and Figures.
Finding ways to relieve the pain and ease the burden
The Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) is a major funder of arthritis research. Last year, CIHR invested approximately $20.5 million in research related to arthritis. This work is being carried out by researchers in universities and hospitals across Canada.
CIHR's Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) leads the organization's efforts in arthritis research. Through funding support and partnerships, IMHA facilitates research and knowledge translation in areas such as osteoarthritis, inflammatory joint disease, regenerative medicine for replacement of damaged joints, and chronic musculoskeletal pain.
"At IMHA, our goal is to eradicate the pain, suffering and disability caused by arthritis and other chronic musculoskeletal conditions. By facilitating research and knowledge translation, we expect to produce innovative strategies for the prevention, early diagnosis and more effective treatment of these conditions, which affect so many Canadians."
- Dr. Jane Aubin, Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Physical activity, mobility and health is IMHA's flagship research priority. Physical activity helps repair and reduce the pain associated with damaged tissue and helps prevent arthritis and other chronic diseases. In July 2010, the Minister of Health announced the funding of four research teams at a special event held at the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada. The teams were funded through an initiative led by IMHA under the theme physical activity, mobility and health. Two of the teams focus on arthritis:
- Dr. John Esdaile of the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada and the University of British Columbia and his team are studying the link between physical activity and osteoarthritis of the hip.
- Dr. Ciaran Duffy of McGill University and his team are studying the role of physical activity in the treatment of children with arthritis.
Watch videos about:
- The need for research on physical activity, mobility and health with Dr. Jane Aubin
- Dr. John Esdaile's research project
- Dr. Ciaran Duffy's research project
These are some other examples of arthritis research projects supported by CIHR.
- Dr. Kathy Siminovitch of the University of Toronto and Mount Sinai Hospital's Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute is searching for the genes and molecular pathways that make someone susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis.
- Dr. Linda Li of the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada and the University of British Columbia have developed a web-based program that helps people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis find the best treatment option for them.
- Dr. Michael Buschmann of Montreal's École Polytechnique and his collaborators have developed a unique natural product that spurs the regeneration of cartilage damaged by osteoarthritis, injury or wear and tear.
- Dr. James Henry of McMaster University and Dr. Frank Beier of the University of Western Ontario and their collaborators are studying the genetic roots of osteoarthritis and the pain it causes.
- Dr. Christopher Riley of the University of Prince Edward Island is exploring the use of infrared spectroscopy as a possible tool for detecting the early signs of osteoarthritis.
- Dr. Allyson Jones of the University of Alberta is studying whether home exercises can improve knee replacement surgery results in osteoarthritis patients.
- Dr. Catherine Arnold of the University of Saskatchewan has shown that the combination of exercise and education helps prevent falls and increases mobility for older adults with osteoarthritis.
- Dr. Proton Rahman of Memorial University has found a specific genetic variant for a type of protein, known as vascular endothelial growth factor, which seems to offer protection against psoriatic arthritis.
- Dr. Brian Feldman of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto has shown that kids with juvenile idiopathic arthritis can stay active and keep fit, whether it's with high- or low-intensity activities.
Useful Links
Public Health Agency of Canada