- As of 2020, about 17.6 million people globally were living with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease causing painful inflammation and swelling in joints.
- Scientists are still not sure as to the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis. New research suggests that certain changes to the gut microbiome may be linked to the development of this condition.
- The study authors believe their findings offer a potential new pathway for new early preventative strategies for rheumatoid arthritis.
As of 2020, about 17.6 million people around the world were living with rheumatoid arthritis — an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks tissues lining the joints of the hands and feet, causing painful inflammation and swelling.
Researchers are still unclear as to the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis. However, previous studies show that genetics, environmental factors, smoking, and obesity may increase a person’s risk of developing the disease.
“There is still a lot we don’t understand about rheumatoid arthritis development and unfortunately there is little to none preventative strategies available,” Christopher Rooney, MD, PhD, researcher at the Leeds Institute of Medical Research at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, told Medical News Today.
Rooney is the lead author of a new study reporting that certain changes to the gut microbiome may be linked to the development of rheumatoid arthritis, potentially opening up a new pathway for disease prevention strategies.
The study was recently published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
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