scholarly journals Basis of bone strength vs. bone fragility: A review of determinants of age-related hip fracture risk

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 548-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danijela Djonic ◽  
Petar Milovanovic ◽  
Marija Djuric

The burden of hip fractures in elderly population has been growing worldwide. A particular focus has been directed towards identifying persons at high risk of fracture. However, bone mineral density (BMD), which is currently used in clinical settings as an indicator of risk of age-related fracture, cannot explain all fracture cases in the elderly. In fact, the risk of hip fractures in the elderly is associated with numerous bone features that degrade bone strength. This review focuses on complexity of bone features that could account for increased bone fragility in advanced age. Besides a decrease in BMD, various macroscopic and microscopic structural parameters, as well as the material of which the bone is composed, are subject to age-related changes. Therefore, in order to have a more thorough assessment of the fracture risk, it is essential to provide integrative approaches that combine BMD measure with other relevant bone features.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nana He ◽  
Yuelin Zhang ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Beili Feng ◽  
Zaixing Zheng ◽  
...  

Aging generally coincides with a gradual decline in mass and strength of muscles and bone mineral density (BMD). Sarcopenia is closely linked to osteoporosis in the elderly, which can lead to abnormal gait, balance disorders, and dysfunctions, as well as increase in the risks of falls, fractures, weakness, and death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are a kind of short and non-coding RNA molecules but can regulate posttranscriptional protein expression. However, we have known little about their participation in age-associated osteoporosis and sarcopenia. The current study aims to confirm those miRNAs as biomarkers for age-related reduction in muscular atrophy associated with human blood fractures. In our study, 10 fracture-risk-related miRNAs (miR-637, miR-148a-3p, miR-125b-5p, miR-124-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-100-5p, miR-93-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-23a-3p, and miR-24-3p) were analyzed. For the initial screening, we determined the abundance of fracture-risk-associated miRNAs by RT-PCR most frequently detected in enrolled 93 elderly with sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia, respectively. Statistically, the relative expression levels of plasma miR-23a-3p, miR-93-5p, and miR-637 in the sarcopenia group were significantly lower than that in the non-sarcopenia group, while the levels of other miRNAs did not change significantly. Moreover, we showed that the levels of ASM/height2, handgrip strength, and 4-m velocity in the sarcopenia group were significantly lower than in the non-sarcopenia group. Whereafter, we expanded the sample for further detection and analysis and revealed that the levels of plasma miR-23a-3p, miR-93-5p, and miR-637 in the sarcopenia group were significantly lower than that in the non-sarcopenia group, which is consistent with the initial screening experiment. From our analysis, changes in levels of plasma miR-93-5p and miR-637 were dramatically related to ASM/height2. Furthermore, changes in miR-23a and miR-93-5p were significantly affected by ASM/height2 in female individuals, with no significant correlations between miRNAs changes and these diagnostic indexes in male individuals after adjusting sex. The study showed that plasma miRNAs changed in an aging-related sarcopenia manner and were associated with increased fracture risk. In aging patients, plasma miR-23a-3p, miR-93-5p, and miR-637 have the potential as biomarkers of sarcopenia, which can affect the development of physiological dysfunction and may be also used in the fracture risk assessment of these patients.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huayue Chen ◽  
Xiangrong Zhou ◽  
Hiroshi Fujita ◽  
Minoru Onozuka ◽  
Kin-Ya Kubo

The elderly population has substantially increased worldwide. Aging is a complex process, and the effects of aging are myriad and insidious, leading to progressive deterioration of various organs, including the skeleton. Age-related bone loss and resultant osteoporosis in the elderly population increase the risk for fractures and morbidity. Osteoporosis is one of the most common conditions associated with aging, and age is an independent risk factor for osteoporotic fractures. With the development of noninvasive imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), micro-CT, and high resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT), imaging of the bone architecture provides important information about age-related changes in bone microstructure and estimates of bone strength. In the past two decades, studies of human specimens using imaging techniques have revealed decreased bone strength in older adults compared with younger adults. The present paper addresses recently studied age-related changes in trabecular and cortical bone microstructure based primarily on HR-pQCT and micro-CT. We specifically focus on the three-dimensional microstructure of the vertebrae, femoral neck, and distal radius, which are common osteoporotic fracture sites.


Author(s):  
Xiaodu Wang ◽  
Jeffry Nyman ◽  
Michael Reyes

A number of factors across multiple length scales (Table 1) may contribute to the mechanical competence of bone (i.e., the resistance to fracture). This structural complexity hinders a complete mechanistic explanation (model) for elderly bone fragility. Although age-related loss of bone mass has been viewed as the reason for the rising incidence of bone fractures in the elderly,(2) bone quality is more meaningful to provide insights into why individuals with ‘normal’ bone mineral density (BMD) suffer fractures. Bone is a hierarchical and hydrated composite of mineral and collagen phases,(3, 4) showing a rather complex response to the mechanical loading.(5, 6) While previous research has investigated the resistance of bone to crack propagation,(7, 8) fatigue behavior,(9–11) and mechanical changes to load-induced damage,(12–14) little is known about the mechanical behavior of bone as a function of progressive deformation (strain). In this study, by employing a previously developed progressive loading scheme,(15) we intend to investigate the progressive stress-strain behavior of bone with increasing strain levels, so as to gain more information on the underlying mechanisms for post-yield behavior of bone. It is hypothesized that the post-yield behavior of bone varies with the increasing strain, which plays a significant role in sustaining the toughness or quality of bone.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Anna Izzo ◽  
Elena Massimino ◽  
Gabriele Riccardi ◽  
Giuseppe Della Pepa

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a major health burden for the elderly population, affecting approximately 25% of people over the age of 65 years. This percentage is expected to increase dramatically in the next decades in relation to the increased longevity of the population observed in recent years. Beyond microvascular and macrovascular complications, sarcopenia has been described as a new diabetes complication in the elderly population. Increasing attention has been paid by researchers and clinicians to this age-related condition—characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass together with the loss of muscle power and function—in individuals with T2DM; this is due to the heavy impact that sarcopenia may have on physical and psychosocial health of diabetic patients, thus affecting their quality of life. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an update on: (1) the risk of sarcopenia in individuals with T2DM, and (2) its association with relevant features of patients with T2DM such as age, gender, body mass index, disease duration, glycemic control, presence of microvascular or macrovascular complications, nutritional status, and glucose-lowering drugs. From a clinical point of view, it is necessary to improve the ability of physicians and dietitians to recognize early sarcopenia and its risk factors in patients with T2DM in order to make appropriate therapeutic approaches able to prevent and treat this condition.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 624
Author(s):  
Laura M. Stephens ◽  
Steven M. Varga

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is most commonly associated with acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children. However, RSV also causes a high disease burden in the elderly that is often under recognized. Adults >65 years of age account for an estimated 80,000 RSV-associated hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths in the United States annually. RSV infection in aged individuals can result in more severe disease symptoms including pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Given the large disease burden caused by RSV in the aged, this population remains an important target for vaccine development. Aging results in lowered immune responsiveness characterized by impairments in both innate and adaptive immunity. This immune senescence poses a challenge when developing a vaccine targeting elderly individuals. An RSV vaccine tailored towards an elderly population will need to maximize the immune response elicited in order to overcome age-related defects in the immune system. In this article, we review the hurdles that must be overcome to successfully develop an RSV vaccine for use in the elderly, and discuss the vaccine candidates currently being tested in this highly susceptible population.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 517
Author(s):  
Ilia Adami ◽  
Michalis Foukarakis ◽  
Stavroula Ntoa ◽  
Nikolaos Partarakis ◽  
Nikolaos Stefanakis ◽  
...  

Improving the well-being and quality of life of the elderly population is closely related to assisting them to effectively manage age-related conditions such as chronic illnesses and anxiety, and to maintain their independence and self-sufficiency as much as possible. This paper presents the design, architecture and implementation structure of an adaptive system for monitoring the health and well-being of the elderly. The system was designed following best practices of the Human-Centred Design approach involving representative end-users from the early stages.


Author(s):  
Yogiraj Vaijanathrao Chidre ◽  
Amir Babansab Shaikh

Background: Osteoporosis is a common age related problem especially in women, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. Apart from Calcium, another nutrient that plays an important role in the mineralization of skeleton in Vitamin D. Osteocalcin, which is produced primarily by osteoblasts during bone formation, is considered to be one of the markers for osteoporosis.Methods: 314 women above the age of 40 were included into the study. A thorough physical and clinical examination, assessment of vital parameters, anthropometry evaluation was done for all patients. Bone mineral density was calculated using central DXA osteodensitometer at lumbar spine L1-L4, hip and ultradistal radius (in some cases.). Blood samples were taken for the detection of ionized calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, 25hydroxivitamin D (25 ODH) and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) by chemiluminiscent assay. Bone markers such as osteocalcin were measured as required.Results: Out of the 314 women attending our OPD, 96 of them were diagnosed as having osteoporosis. 24 out of them had fragility fractures, mainly of the hip, and 82 had ostepenia. Elevated levels of calcium (8.96 mg/dl), parathyroid hormone (58.76 pg/ml) and osteocalcin (24.46 ng/ml) were observed. Vitamin D deficiency of ≤ 20 was seen in 59 (63%) of the cases, insufficient in 23 (24%) and only 12 (13%) of these women had normal Vitamin D levels.Conclusions: Osteocalcin is a promising marker for the detection of osteoporosis. There is a considerable Vitamin D deficiency among the women with osteoporosis, and it is under-treated. It is essential to provide Vitamin D supplementation to these women especially those who are at high risk for fragility fractures.


Author(s):  
Betsy Szeto ◽  
Chris Valentini ◽  
Anil K Lalwani

ABSTRACT Background The elderly are at increased risk of both hearing loss (HL) and osteoporosis. Bone mineral density (BMD) has been putatively linked to HL. However, the roles of serum calcium concentrations and vitamin D status have yet to be elucidated. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between vitamin D status, parathyroid hormone (PTH), total calcium, BMD, and HL in a nationally representative sample of elderly adults. Methods Using the NHANES (2005–2010), audiometry and BMD data of 1123 participants aged ≥70 y were analyzed in a cross-sectional manner. HL was defined as pure tone averages >25 dB HL at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz (low frequency); 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz (speech frequency); and 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz (high frequency) in either ear. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the relation between HL and total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], PTH, total calcium, and BMD, adjusting for covariates. Results In multivariable analyses, total 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL was found to be associated with greater odds of low-frequency HL (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.28, 3.19) and speech-frequency HL (OR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.44). A 1-unit decrease in femoral neck BMD (OR: 4.55; 95% CI: 1.28, 16.67) and a 1-unit decrease in total spine BMD (OR: 6.25; 95% CI: 1.33, 33.33) were found to be associated with greater odds of low-frequency HL. Serum PTH and total calcium were not found to be associated with HL. Conclusions In the elderly, low vitamin D status was associated with low-frequency and speech-frequency HL. Low vitamin D status may be a potential risk factor for age-related HL.


2017 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 196-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie E Cusano ◽  
Mishaela R Rubin ◽  
Barbara C Silva ◽  
Yu-Kwang Donovan Tay ◽  
John M Williams ◽  
...  

Abstract Context High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT) is a noninvasive imaging technology that can provide insight into skeletal microstructure and strength. In asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), HRpQCT imaging has demonstrated both decreased cortical and trabecular indices, consistent with evidence for increased fracture risk. There are limited data regarding changes in HRpQCT parameters postparathyroidectomy. Objective To evaluate changes in skeletal microstructure by HRpQCT in subjects with PHPT after parathyroidectomy. Design We studied 29 subjects with PHPT (21 women, 8 men) with HRpQCT at baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postparathyroidectomy. Main Outcome Measures Volumetric bone mineral density, microarchitectural indices, and finite element analysis at the distal radius and tibia. Results At both the radius and tibia, there were significant improvements in total, cortical, and trabecular volumetric bone density as early as 6 months postparathyroidectomy (24-month values for total volumetric bone density, radius: +2.8 ± 4%, tibia: +4.4 ± 4%; P < 0.0001 for both), cortical thickness (radius: +1.1 ± 2%, tibia: +2.0 ± 3%; P < 0.01 for both), and trabecular bone volume (radius: +3.8 ± 5%, tibia: +3.2 ± 4%; P < 0.0001 for both). At both sites, by finite element analysis, stiffness and failure load were improved starting at 6 months postparathyroidectomy (24-month values for failure load, radius: +6.2 ± 6%, tibia: +4.8 ± 7%; P < 0.0001 for both). Conclusions These results provide information about skeletal microarchitecture in subjects with PHPT followed through 2 years after parathyroidectomy. Estimated bone strength is improved, consistent with data showing decreased fracture risk postparathyroidectomy.


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