Regenerative Medicine For Cartilage

Fight Aging!

Do you want to live a longer life in good health? Simple practices can make some difference, such as exercise or calorie restriction. But over the long haul all that really matters is progress in medicine: building new classes of therapy to repair and reverse the known root causes of aging. The sooner these treatments arrive, the more lives will be saved. Find out how to help »

Science Daily reports on successful efforts to grow cartilage outside the body - in this case using biodegradable scaffolds and "an innovative bioreactor, which creates mechanical stimulation that builds the tissue." Growing replacement cartilage is a good step forward because "the regenerative ability of cartilage tissue in cases of damage or wear is very limited and nearly non-existent in adults." Age-related joint damage is a big health problem in and of itself, but it also tends to compound other health issues by restricting physical activity. This is one of the many areas in which regenerative medicine can help mitigate the damage of aging.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/11/041119013834.htm