9 must-ask rheumatoid arthritis questions
Here's what you need to know about RA.
Jan, 2026
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Who Is Affected by RA?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects nearly 1 percent of all U.S. adults. And, while RA is typically more common in women and people between the ages of 30 to 60, it can affect men and women of all ages. With so many people touched by this inflammatory and autoimmune disease, it's important to understand its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments–and to know who to ask for help. To get the answers, we turned to RA patients Lisa Emrich and Ashley Boynes-Shuck, and rheumatologist Scott Zashin, MD–three advocates in the world of rheumatoid arthritis
Written byMichael Gollust.
Medically reviewed byMegan Burke, MD.