06/01/2026
Not all arthritis is the same, is what we know 💡
✨ Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is mainly driven by inflammation in the body.
✨ Osteoarthritis (OA) is often connected to joint wear-and-tear over time.
Understanding this can completely change how you approach inflammation, healing, movement, and long-term joint support.
Latest research has shown a genetic association for RA and OA. The difference between the two types of arthritis is that RA has a more severe immune response with activation of cells called T lymphocytes. OA is not only a degenerative or wear-and-tear disease but also involves inflammatory chemicals called cytokines that have both protective and destructive properties. The cytokines in RA are more towards the destructive side (high-grade inflammation vs. low-grade inflammation).
Reference:
Zhang Z, Shao Z, Xu Z, Wang J. Similarities and differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: insights from Mendelian randomization and transcriptome analysis. J Transl Med. 2024;22(1):851. Published 2024 Sep 20. doi:10.1186/s12967-024-05643-4 .