Researchers studying the genetic roots of disc disease have found that an existing osteoporosis medication may help block the process that causes the spine’s natural shock absorbers to harden and deteriorate. The team used zebrafish carrying a faulty collagen-related gene to model the disease, observing mineral buildup and spinal fusion strikingly similar to what occurs in humans.
When the fish were treated with the osteoporosis drug, researchers observed a reduction in spinal damage, raising the possibility that the same medication, already established as safe for human use, could be repurposed to treat or prevent disc disease in people. The team also found that targeting fat metabolism offered a separate route to limiting spinal damage, pointing to another potential angle for future therapies.
With chronic back pain and disc disease affecting a growing share of the global population, researchers say the ability to build on an existing, well-understood drug could shorten the path to new treatment options considerably. Further studies will be needed to confirm whether the effect holds in humans, but the findings mark a promising early step.
Source: sciencedaily.com
