For worn-out knees, the usual answer was replacement — until one injection regrew cartilage

For worn-out knees, the usual answer was replacement — until one injection regrew cartilage

Until now, worn-down knees have typically been treated in stages: first, manage the discomfort, then, as cartilage continues to wear away, consider replacing the joint. But new research out of Stanford Medicine suggests that may not be the only path. What happened? In a study published in Science, a Stanford Medicine team reported that a one-time injection targeting an enzyme tied to aging not only rebuilt damaged cartilage in older mice but als…

Stanford Lab Claims Cartilage Comeback In Mice, Stirs Hopes For Bad Knees

Stanford scientists say they have found a way to coax aging joints in mice into growing fresh, working cartilage, hinting at a future where worn-out knees might be repaired instead of replaced. By blocking a single enzyme called 15‑PGDH, researchers were able to regenerate articular cartilage in older mice, creating thicker, hyaline cartilage and improving joint function. In treated animals, the repaired joints were less likely to slide into ost…