Age
While rheumatoid arthritis would occur in people of all ages, most of the reported cases occur from 40 to 60 years old. In general, the risk can be higher when you are aging. The reason is that the immune system becomes weakened with age, making it more vulnerable to autoimmune disease. In addition, the levels of reproductive hormones in older women are significantly reduced. Since those substances play an important role in protecting the body against the condition, aging would put them at higher risks. That is the reason why many doctors often suggest those women who experience menopause should start hormone replacement therapy to improve their symptoms. [6]
