Joshua Baker, MD, MSCE

Age and obesity-related alterations in skeletal muscle mitochondrial activity and lipid distribution, and associations with joint inflammation and cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis

In the proposed study, Dr. Joshua Baker will investigate the link between osteoarthritis (OA) and aging and specifically how metabolic health, obesity, and aging contribute to development and progression of OA. While OA is viewed as a disease of cumulative damage and “wear and tear”, evidence suggests it is related to metabolic changes associated with aging. Dr. Baker’s lab will evaluate features of muscle health by looking at skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity and how it changes with age. They will also evaluate lipid distribution in muscles, the pro-inflammatory secretions that are closely linked with OA, and how these factors correlate with OA severity. This research will provide preliminary data to support a future, larger study to evaluate the metabolic health of skeletal muscle as a predictor of OA progression. In the future, treatments aimed at mitochondrial pathways may be an important treatment to prevent worsening of osteoarthritis and improving joint function.