Biomarkers of aging as it relates osteoarthritis: we can’t improve what we can’t measure

Aging is the largest risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis (OA), a major contributor to increased years lived with disability. This review reflects on how age-related changes relevant to OA have been measured at various length scales. Key discoveries include increased chondrocyte DNA damage with age and the disruption of matrix homeostasis by cellular senescence. Epigenetic clocks have yet to show predictive value for OA, while transcriptomic changes and miRNA profiles are linked to aging and senescence. Protein biomarkers have gained traction in the context of post-traumatic OA and may also be useful in understanding risk profiles for age-related OA. Post-translational modifications provide insights into protein aging and the rate of matrix turnover at different joint sites. Non-enzymatic crosslinks also increase with age and may be responsible for changes to the mechanical properties of joint tissues. Finally, the walking speed declines with age and predicts incident OA. Despite these advances, more research is needed on age-related changes in tissues beyond cartilage. Efforts should be directed toward identifying biomarkers of aging that can integrate large studies on genetic risk factors with the deep phenotyping done in longitudinal cohort OA studies. Early intervention is crucial for treating OA and other age-related diseases, highlighting the importance of validating sensitive and predictive biomarkers that could support new treatment paradigms. Finally, reversing at least some aspects of age-related decline may be critical for improving joint function. Promising approaches include effective delivery of targeted senolytics and the use of partial reprogramming to rejuvenate chondrocytes.