Reply #14: Even Neanderthals got arthritis

[Tanuki]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal

"Degenerative Disease
Arthritis is particularly common in the older Neanderthal population, specifically targeting areas of articulation such as the ankle (Shanidar III), spine and hips (La Chapelle-aux-Saints ‘Old Man’), arms (La Quina 5, Krapina, Feldhofer) knees, fingers and toes. This is closely related to degenerative joint disease, which can range from normal, use-related degeneration to painful, debilitating restriction of movement and deformity and is seen in varying degree in the Shanidar skeletons (I-IV)."

So it doesn't seem it's all that new---maybe as some other posters have suggested, more of us are living to the older ages at which it shows up. I suspect that obesity, diet, and other environmental factors play a role as well.