Hi,

I asked a Genetisist at Stanford a similar question about the increase in auto-immune disorders in general. He said that they are studying if it could be possibly due to the fact that we live in such a disinfected, immunized world where our immune systems don't have to work very hard anymore; and so have begun to attack our own healthy tissues.

I have read that if you are pre-disposed to this disease (family history, high White-blood cell count, RH levels, etc), then are exposed to a stressful event (accident, exposure to radiation, divorce, death in the family, etc.), this has been linked to the possible onset of RA disease. I hope that helps.

Regards,

Bret