Dinosaurs also suffer from osteoarthritis

New research suggests dinosaurs may be the oldest "victim" of chronic osteoarthritis, according to New Scientist.

Caudipteryx Dinosaur

Bruce Rothschild of the University of Kansas (USA) and colleagues revealed that Caudipteryx, a feather dinosaur that once existed 130 million years ago, may have suffered from osteoarthritis.

Wishing to understand the time when osteoarthritis first appeared, scientists studied the ankle bones of ancient birds and feathered dinosaurs stored in Chinese museums.

Three of the 10 fossils of the dinosaur Caudipteryx indicate the existence of signs of osteoarthritis.

The reason why Caudipteryx - which is the size of a public bird - is prone to osteoarthritis is still a mystery to researchers.

According to Rothschild, osteoarthritis is the most common disease in today's "small" birds.

Reference: Newscientist