Intervertebral disc degeneration
Nature Reviews Disease Primers, Published online: 05 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41572-025-00681-8
Intervertebral disc degeneration is a natural consequence of ageing and involves a loss of tissue structural integrity, which can lead to various pathological states. In this Primer, Hammoor et al. review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of the various pathologies. They also discuss the effects of disc pathology on patient quality of life and highlight emerging and future therapies to improve outcomes.













