Many humans develop arthritis as they age. About 27 million Americans feel stiffness in the morning or might experience some form of joint pain that comes from osteoarthritis. Like humans, animals also suffer from arthritis and related degenerative disc disease. This includes a species you might not consider when thinking of arthritis – the moose.
Population Study
About 100 years ago, the first moose swam out to the 45-mile long, unpopulated Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Michigan University scientists have been studying this moose population and the island's resident wolves since 1958. As the scientists collected moose bones, they discovered that many of the 1,200 they analyzed had been affected by arthritis – and the form looked similar to human arthritis.
The arthritis was mostly found in the hip joints of the moose (see photo). Weakening of such a key joint left the moose vulnerable to the wolves' attacks. In addition to suffering from arthritis, these moose were also small, indicating that they may have also suffered from malnutrition.
Links & Arthritic Causes
The cause of osteoarthritis is not pinpointed to a single reason for arthritis. It may stem from wear and tear on the joints, and obesity could be a factor. In the moose, it seemed that nutrition during the early development stages played a role. If food supplies were scarce, a mother moose would not have been able to provide a healthy environment for her developing offspring. The baby, in turn, may not have turned out structurally correct or strong.
The Michigan University scientists determined that the moose did not experience food scarcity as adults – causing them wear and tear by walking farther to find food. This leaves the earlier life stages, from the womb and beyond, when the bones, joints, and cartilage were developing.
More studies are required to determine whether poor nutrition is a definitive cause of osteoarthritis in humans.
Resources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/17/health/research/17moose.html?_r=3
http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/health-well-being/stories/moose-arthritis-leads-to-new-medical-insights
http://www.thedoctorweighsin.com/moose-arthritis-how-not-to-publish/
http://www.nps.gov/isro/naturescience/
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/science/11/chap3.htm (image)
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