Arthritis Osteoarthritis Does Everyone Develop Osteoarthritis? By Carol Eustice twitter linkedin Carol Eustice is a writer who covers arthritis and chronic illness. She is the author of "The Everything Health Guide to Arthritis." Learn about our editorial process Carol Eustice Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Scott Zashin, MD on October 11, 2020 linkedin Scott J. Zashin, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. He was a volunteer clinical professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas. Learn about our Medical Review Board Scott Zashin, MD on October 11, 2020 Print Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis out of more than 100 different types. It's the type most people think of when they hear someone say they have "arthritis." You probably can name more than one elderly relative who has or had the disease. After all, it is associated with aging and wear-and-tear of the joints. You may remember your elderly loved one talking about their arthritis pain or remember watching them struggle to get out of a chair and walk. You may have seen them rubbing cream on their aching joints or using a heating pad as they tried anything that might offer a bit of relief. You may have even wondered if that was what old age had in store for you. Were you witnessing what it would be like for you? When you're young, it seems many years away, so the tendency is not to worry. But as you grow older, is osteoarthritis what's facing you? Is there a 100% chance that you will develop osteoarthritis at some point in your life? Does everyone develop osteoarthritis? ZEPHYR/Getty Images Common but Not Inevitable Osteoarthritis is common, but the disease is not inevitable. While there are about 27 million Americans with osteoarthritis, it is possible for a person to live their entire life without developing the condition. The number includes the elderly. It has been established that approximately 70% of people over the age of 65 have x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis, but not all of them experience symptoms. Not Solely Related to the Aging Process The risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age, but it is not simply a normal part of aging. While certain cellular processes that occur with aging may cause osteoarthritis in some people, it has been suggested that there is more than just aging that is responsible for arthritic changes to cartilage and joints. An inflammatory process has been suspected and studied. Certain Factors Increase Risk There are risk factors associated with osteoarthritis. The more risk factors you have, the more likely you will develop the disease. For example, if have a family history of osteoarthritis, you are at increased risk of developing the disease. If you have had a joint injury or are overweight, your risk of developing osteoarthritis is greater. Some risk factors are modifiable (e.g., being overweight) while others are not (e.g., genetics). While these factors increase your chances of developing osteoarthritis, you can develop the disease even if you have none of the recognized risk factors. Bottom Line Not everyone develops osteoarthritis. It is not an inevitable condition. Risk factors increase the likelihood you will develop osteoarthritis, but people can develop the disease who have none of the known risk factors. As research progresses, the causes of osteoarthritis may be discovered. As with peptic ulcers, it may be that what we always thought was the cause (in that case, stress) was, in fact, something easily treatable (a bacteria). A simple treatment or preventative drug may be developed. Or, we may be able to eliminate one of the major risk factors, such as the high rate of obesity in the population, and reduce the frequency of osteoarthritis. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn tips for managing arthrits pain, medications, and daily challenges. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Managing Arthritis: Q & A's. Longevity. Foundations of Wellness. UC Berkeley. Osteoarthritis of the Hip. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon. July 2007.