This observational analysis shows age-related changes in metabolic activity and cartilage in joints, suggesting joint health indicators.
Motivation: This study addresses aging's impact on joint function, focusing on cartilage degradation and bone remodeling in an aging population. Goal(s): We aim to assess age-related differences in joint physiology using a combined [18F]NaF PET-MRI "stress test" with pre- and post-exercise imaging. Approach: 40 participants (22-73 years) underwent knee scans, and T2 MRI and [18F]NaF PET metrics were analyzed to assess cartilage and bone metabolic activity. Results: Older adults showed cartilage T2 increases and higher metabolic activity. Exercise-induced PET changes decreased with age. Impact: This study demonstrates the potential of a functional [18F]NaF PET-MRI 'stress test' for joint health, offering region-specific joint biomarkers. This work emphasizes the role of PET-MRI in improving understanding of how aging-related changes in the joint contribute to osteoarthritis.
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Goyal et al. (2025) studied this question.
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