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True or false: Osteoarthritis is caused by your joints wearing out with old age.

Osteoarthritis is a complicated disease that no one fully understands, but it is not due to aging. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage lining the surface of your joint gets rough and cracked, and your bones grow to try to repair the damage.

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This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.