Anti-aging injection regrows knee cartilage and prevents arthritis

Excitement vs. “in mice” caveat

• Many are very excited, especially older readers and those with meniscus tears, arthritis, or thumb/hand issues.
• Repeated reminder: results are in mice, though ex vivo human knee tissue reportedly also regrew cartilage and behaved “normally,” which some take as encouraging.
• Others urge caution until actual human clinical outcomes are shown.

Mechanism and compounds

• Discussion centers on inhibiting 15‑PGDH (“gerozyme”) to boost prostaglandin signaling and trigger cartilage regeneration and pain reduction.
• The Science paper identifies the small molecule SW033291 as the 15‑PGDH inhibitor; no clinicaltrials.gov hits yet.
• JAK‑STAT inhibitors are mentioned as also downregulating 15‑PGDH, but are expensive.
• Some note 15‑PGDH inhibition can promote tumor growth in other tissues (e.g., pancreas), highlighting possible cancer risks.
• A question about the relationship between 15‑PGDH and NAD+ goes unanswered (unclear).

Cartilage, aging, and other joints

• Several call cartilage failure a key limiter of healthy lifespan, though others argue nerves (spinal, optic) are more critical.
• People hope this will extend to ankles, hips, backs, and finger joints; one commenter notes ankles share similar cartilage type, so they’re optimistic but still speculative.

Current arthritis and joint management

• Many personal stories: meniscus removal, early arthritis, hip and knee replacements, microfracture surgery, long-standing pain from sports or accidents.
• Common themes:
  • Keep moving: “motion is lotion” – light activity often better than rest.
  • Low‑impact cardio (cycling, treadmill, trail running), weight management, and strengthening surrounding muscles.
  • NSAIDs (especially topical diclofenac), corticosteroid injections, DMARDs for rheumatoid disease, occasional mention of PRP and low‑dose radiation.
  • Some report dramatic improvement from targeted stretching or physical therapy, sometimes outperforming or delaying surgery.
  • One case of misdiagnosed “arthritis” turned out to be a staph infection.

Supplements and collagen debate

• Claims that collagen synthesis can be supported by hydrolyzed collagen plus vitamin C, zinc, copper.
• UC Davis/Keith Baar work is cited in favor of collagen/gelatin plus vitamin C for tendon/ligament health, with some strong personal anecdotes.
• Others question mechanism (“why not just protein?”) and note a meta‑analysis suggesting positive collagen trials may be biased by funding. Several say they will stop supplementation.

Movement patterns and technique

• Runners describe knee relief from:
  • Switching from heel‑strike to forefoot/ball‑of‑foot running.
  • Trail running or softer surfaces vs. concrete/asphalt.
• Detailed discussion on trail technique, ankle strengthening, accepting walk sections, and the benefits of uneven terrain for stabilizing muscles.
• Some argue cycling can also stress joints if bike fit is poor; others favor mixed or alternative activities (hiking, swimming, incline walking).

Hands, ergonomics, and overuse

• Several hope for finger joint regeneration after decades of typing or music playing.
• Mechanical and ergonomic keyboards, split layouts, very light springs (20g or less), and even capless switches are discussed as pain‑reduction strategies, with varying success.
• Voice input and AI “typing for you” are suggested as partial workarounds.

Risk–benefit outlook

• Many express hope this therapy could delay or replace joint replacements and maintain mobility into old age.
• Others emphasize the need to balance regeneration with cancer risk and call for careful long‑term human studies before broad use.