Researchers at the University of Galway have shed some light on the mysteries of spinal disc degeneration.
They looked at the arrangement of certain sugar chains in spine cells - and the critical role they play in generation.
This project was carried out by a team at the CÚRAM Research Centre for Medical Devices, with some international collaborators.
They looked at spinal disc degeneration - essentially, the wearing down of discs, which happens as we age, or due to certain lifestyle or genetic factors.
As our discs break down, we can experience symptoms like inflammation, low back and neck pain, lack of shock absorption, and sciatica.
Researchers examined sugar chains in spine cells called 'glycans', and produced a complex chart of their characteristics in both healthy and degenerated discs.
It's the first study of its kind ever, and researchers say it provides a greater understanding of specific sugars found in degenerated or diseased discs.
This, they hope, will lead to far more effective treatment, by paving the way for more focused therapies.
