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At what age does cartilage start to deteriorate?

While symptomatic osteoarthritis typically emerges after age 50, subtle age-related changes to collagen, a core component of cartilage, can begin as early as your mid-20s. This provides a nuanced answer to the question: **At what age does cartilage start to deteriorate**? The process begins slowly and is part of normal aging, but several factors can accelerate it over time.