Psoriatic Arthritis: Healthy Aging Tips
Rheumatic ConditionsPsoriatic Arthritis

6 Tips for Healthy Aging With Psoriatic Arthritis

6 Tips for Healthy Aging With Psoriatic Arthritis
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Updated on March 12, 2026
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Psoriatic arthritis is most likely to develop in people ages 30 to 55.

 That means you may have many decades of managing the autoimmune condition ahead of you. Meanwhile, as you age, your risk of developing other bone and joint issues, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, also increases.

Luckily, there are plenty of steps you can take to promote healthy bones and joints through the years. Start with these strategies.

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Carrying around excess weight puts stress on your joints. It’s also been linked to more severe psoriatic arthritis and reducing the effectiveness of certain psoriatic arthritis medications. And the more excess fat in the body, the worse the psoriatic arthritis symptoms. Fat cells produce pro-inflammatory proteins, contributing to the chronic inflammation that intensifies psoriatic arthritis.

The good news? Weight loss has been shown to improve psoriatic arthritis, according to research. What’s more, reducing your weight can also help lower your risk of related health complications, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Talk to your doctor about safe strategies to lose weight and protect your health as you age.

2. Ask Your Doctor About Your Bone Health

Psoriatic arthritis primarily affects your joints, and your risk of osteoporosis increases as you age, so you need to start thinking about your bone health, too. Although it’s unclear if psoriatic arthritis itself increases your risk of osteoporosis, “People with psoriatic arthritis should have bone density screenings [the same as] the general population,” says Yeohan Song, MD, a rheumatologist at Northside Hospital in Duluth, Georgia.

The US Preventive Services Task Force currently recommends screening for osteoporosis in women 65 years or older and in postmenopausal women younger than 65 who are at increased risk of osteoporosis.

 Screenings are every two years. There’s some controversy over when to start screening in men, but many organizations recommend a bone density scan at age 70, or earlier if they have increased risk factors for low bone mass.

For example, if you take steroid medication, ask your doctor when you may need a bone density test. “There is a known increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures even with low steroid doses,” Dr. Song says.

You should also get regular blood tests to monitor your calcium and vitamin D levels, says Song. These essential nutrients help promote bone health as you age. If your levels are low, your doctor may recommend eating more foods that are rich in vitamin D and calcium or taking a dietary supplement.

3. Stay Active, but Exercise Carefully

Research shows that exercise can decrease psoriatic arthritis disease activity, improve well-being, and reduce the risk of other medical conditions.

 But choose your exercise wisely: High-impact activities, such as running, may traumatize joints. In addition, avoid activities that may create a fall risk, especially as you age.
Switch to low-impact exercises, such as walking, swimming, Pilates, or tai chi. “In particular, tai chi has also been strongly recommended in the American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation guidelines for knee and hip osteoarthritis,” Song says.

4. Prioritize Your Mental Health

Taking steps to promote mental health is important for everyone. Aging can contribute to mental health concerns.

 And living with a chronic condition like psoriatic arthritis can add to the psychological and emotional burden.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 studies of more than 30,000 patients found that simply having psoriatic arthritis is associated with depression and anxiety. In fact, people living with psoriatic arthritis have a 22 percent higher chance of developing depression compared with the general population.

Psoriatic arthritis is also linked to fatigue, psychological distress, and a lower quality of life, the study authors say. In addition, depression increases the perception of pain, making the severity of symptoms feel worse.

Taking steps to prioritize your mental health and alleviate stress can help. Stress leads to more inflammation in the body, worsening psoriatic arthritis symptoms.

To help combat these effects, try deep breathing or yoga to help keep stress at bay. Many people find themselves spending more time alone as they age, but staying socially connected is key to mental health. Also ask your doctor for a referral to a mental health professional who works with people living with chronic disease.

5. Be Mindful of Hormonal Changes

Going through menopause can have a direct impact on psoriatic arthritis.

Many people will experience worsened psoriatic arthritis during menopause. The reason is still unclear, but it may have to do with decreasing estrogen levels. Meanwhile, menopause symptoms such as insomnia, stress, and mood changes can all promote inflammatory activity, which may prompt psoriatic arthritis flares.

Interestingly, hormone replacement therapy does not seem to improve psoriatic arthritis symptoms, and some research has actually linked it to an increased risk of several autoimmune conditions, including psoriatic arthritis.

 But, if you’re going through menopause and feel like it’s affecting your arthritis, talk to your rheumatologist, who may want to make adjustments to your current medication.

6. Check in Regularly With Your Doctor

When it comes to treating psoriatic arthritis, what works for you today may not work the same in the future. “With the increasing number of treatments available and the risk of permanent damage if joint inflammation from psoriatic arthritis is not controlled, it’s important for patients to schedule regular appointments with their rheumatologist for long-term management,” Song says.

How frequently checkups should be scheduled varies from person to person. It depends on the severity of your psoriatic arthritis, as well as what medications you’re on and when you started taking them.

It can take a long time to get a rheumatology appointment, so have the next appointment scheduled — and on your calendar — before you leave your doctor’s office.

The Takeaway

  • Psoriatic arthritis can progress over time, and the risk of bone issues such as osteoporosis can increase with age.
  • To protect your joints and bones as you age, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight, care for your mental health, exercise properly, and be aware of how hormonal changes may impact your psoriatic arthritis.
  • Check in regularly with your rheumatologist to stay on top of your treatment.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Psoriatic Arthritis. Mayo Clinic. September 19, 2025.
  2. Delzell E. How Fat Affects PsA. Arthritis Foundation.
  3. Kumthekar A et al. Obesity and Psoriatic Arthritis: A Narrative Review. Rheumatology and Therapy. September 2020.
  4. US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. January 14, 2025.
  5. Berg S. What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Osteoporosis. American Medical Association. May 3, 2024.
  6. Kessler J et al. Psoriatic Arthritis and Physical Activity: A Systematic Review. Clinical Rheumatology. November 2021.
  7. Kolasinski SL et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee. Arthritis & Rheumatology. February 2020.
  8. Ratnakaran B. Why Should We Care About the Mental Health of Older Adults? AMA Journal of Ethics. October 2023.
  9. Zhao SS et al. Systematic Review of Mental Health Comorbidities in Psoriatic Arthritis. Clinical Rheumatology. January 2020.
  10. Manage Stress to Improve Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms. Mayo Clinic. January 2, 2025.
  11. Rath L. Menopause With a Rheumatic Disease. Arthritis Foundation. September 23, 2022.
  12. Tskhakaia I et al. Contraceptives or Hormone Replacement Therapy and Associations With Autoimmune Conditions: Exploring Effects of Estrogen Analog Supplementation. ACR Open Rheumatology. January 2025.
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Samir Dalvi, MD

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Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Samir Dalvi, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist. He has over 14 years of experience in caring for patients with rheumatologic diseases, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus, and gout.

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Jessica Migala

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Jessica Migala is a freelance writer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in health, nutrition, fitness, and beauty. She has written extensively about vision care, diabetes, dermatology, gastrointestinal health, cardiovascular health, cancer, pregnancy, and gynecology. She was previously an assistant editor at Prevention where she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories.

She has contributed to more than 40 print and digital publications, including Cosmopolitan, O:The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Women’s Health, Fitness, Family Circle, Health, Prevention, Self, VICE, and more. Migala lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two young boys, rescue beagle, and 15 fish. When not reporting, she likes running, bike rides, and a glass of wine (in moderation, of course).

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