Evolutionary changes in human joints linked to osteoarthritis

An international research team has identified that human joint pain and skeletal diseases, such as osteoarthritis, may be an evolutionary trade-off for the traits that define the human species. According to a study published in the journal Nature, humans are significantly more susceptible to degenerative joint and spinal conditions than other great apes like chimpanzees and gorillas.

Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Kyoto University, and the Institute of Evolutionary Biology utilized human-chimpanzee hybrid cells and advanced genomic techniques to reach these conclusions. The study suggests that human joints underwent a drastic evolutionary change to facilitate an upright posture, characterized by thinner bones and longer legs. While this change enabled bipedalism, it also made human joints less effective at absorbing impact, leading to increased vulnerability to osteoarthritis, vertebral disc degeneration, and herniated discs.

Unlike other great apes, which maintain agility even into old age, the evolutionary shift in human skeletal structure has resulted in chronic joint issues that affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide.