A drug already used for osteoporosis blocked spinal damage in a new study
Researchers studying zebrafish have identified a biological process that causes spinal disc degeneration, mirroring human conditions. The study suggests that a drug currently used for osteoporosis could potentially block the mineralization that leads to spinal damage.
Why it matters
This discovery offers a potential new pathway for treating chronic back pain, which currently lacks effective non-surgical medical interventions.
Changes in gene activity may contribute to neck and back pain by damaging the discs that act as the spine's natural shock absorbers, according to new research.
A study using zebrafish found that altered gene activity can cause minerals to accumulate within the spine. This process resembles bone forming where it should not, eventually making spinal tissue unusually hard.
Researchers say the results reveal several biological processes that could become targets for future back pain treatments. The work also indicates that zebrafish may provide a useful model for testing potential therapies.
Most people experience back pain at some point. A major cause is the progressive deterioration of the discs that cushion the bones of the spine, a condition called intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD).
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