健康英语新闻:Israeli researcher finds connection between backache and genes

JERUSALEM, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A new study carried out by a Tel Aviv University researcher indicates that the common backache may not only be caused by bad positions or aging, but also by your genes.

Prof. Gregory Livshits of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine says that genes play a major role in back pain, especially in the lower back, and in spinal deterioration.

In a decade-long project with 2,500 identical and non-identical twins, Livshits found that, in one Arab family, the same back problems appeared in all the members of the family, whether young or old.

According to the study, non-identical twins were three times more likely to have back pain, while identical twins were six times more likely to have the same back problems.

Livshits believes the discovery of the link between back pains and genes could lead to much better treatment.

The research was developed in collaboration with a team of scientists at Kings College, London, led by Prof. Tim Spector and Dr. Fran Williams and was recently published in the journal " Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases."

In order to better investigate the genetic causes for one of the world most common pains, Livshits and his colleagues hope to put together an international consortium of research groups.