[Ageing and degeneration of human lumbar intervertebral discs]

Intervertebral discs undergo serious age-related changes. It is generally accepted that degeneration of discs begins during the second decade of life, and it is well known that other structures of spine do not change as fast as the intervertebral discs. The most extensive degenerative changes occur in the nucleus pulposus, including degradation of proteoglycans aggregates with its fragmentation, dehydration, and loss of viable cells. Data available in literature, suggests that the most critical factor contributing to the degeneration, is increasing volume of the disc due to its growth, resulting in longer nutritional pathways and insufficient nutrition.