Expert review of clinical pharmacologyMay 7, 2026

Osteoarthritis and dementia as different diseases linked by shared cell-cleaning and energy-regulating pathways

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated May 8, 2026

Abstract

Osteoarthritis and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, are associated with shared cellular pathways that may offer new treatment opportunities.

Degenerative joint disease and dementia are progressively worsened by aging and currently only have symptomatic treatments available.
Shared cellular pathways, including oxidative stress and autophagy, may contribute to the onset and progression of both diseases.
Mechanisms involving the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors could be critical in understanding these conditions.
Research suggests that the interconnected nature of these pathways may lead to innovative therapeutic strategies.
Artificial intelligence applications may enhance the clinical translation of findings related to these complex interactions.

Simplified

INTRODUCTION: Increased global lifespan is paralleled by a rise in non-communicable diseases with osteoarthritis and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, impacting all nations with severe disability, death, and financial burden.

AREAS COVERED: Given that osteoarthritis and dementia are worsened with advancing age, progressive in nature, and presently remain only with symptomatic treatments, development of advanced comprehensive therapies is critical for these disorders. New innovative work offers insight into the underlying clinical bond between degenerative joint disease and cognitive loss. Data sources using systematic literature search employed PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect from January 2021 through February 2026.

EXPERT OPINION: Although affecting diverse organ systems, degenerative joint disease and dementia are intimately connected by shared cellular pathways responsible for disease onset and progression. Pioneering avenues of investigation of oxidative stress, autophagy, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), cellular metabolism mechanisms with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors and AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), Wnt signaling, and Wnt1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) offer exciting treatment opportunities for osteoarthritis and Alzheimer's disease. Ultimately, these complex pathways will necessitate focus upon their intricate dependence that may benefit from several targeted approaches including artificial intelligence applications for fruitful clinical translation.

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Competing interests

Disclosures statement. The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

PubMed

Osteoarthritis and dementia as different diseases linked by shared cell-cleaning and energy-regulating pathways

Abstract

Full Text

Funding

Competing interests

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