There’s still much to learn about why and how rheumatoid arthritis (RA) happens. Building on recent discoveries, areas under study include:
Researchers are looking at genes to see why some people get RA and some don’t, and why some cases are worse than others. This data can lead to biologics -- like JAK inhibitors -- that fight the causes of RA at a cellular level.
Another area of RA research focuses on proteins made to target molecules that affect your immune system. They're called monoclonal antibodies, and several are approved by the FDA for use in RA.
Statins, commonly used to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease, are being studied to see if they can lessen the symptoms of rheumatoid zarthritis.
Medical and dental researchers are revisiting the link between joint disease and gum disease.