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Age-related decrements in bone mineral density in women over 65Age-related changes in bone density contribute to the risk of fractures. To describe the relationship between age and bone mass in elderly women, we studied a large cohort of women over age 65 years who were recruited from population-based lists in four cities in the United States. Bone density in g/cm2 was measured by single-photon absorptiometry (SPA) and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the distal and proximal radius, the calcaneus, the lumbar spine, and the proximal femur. Centralized data collection was used to control data quality and consistency. We found a strong inverse relationship between bone density and age for most sites. Decrements in bone density between women aged 65-69 years and women 85 years and older exceeded 16% in all regions except the spine, where the difference between the two age groups was 6%. Ward's triangle and the calcaneus exhibited the largest decrements, with 26 and 21%, respectively. The estimates of annual changes in bone mineral density by linear regression at sites other than the spine ranged from -0.82% at the femoral neck and trochanter to -1.30% at Ward's triangle. Correlations between the different regions ranged from r = 0.51 between the proximal radius and Ward's triangle to r = 0.66 between the distal radius and calcaneus. We conclude that the inverse relationship between age and bone mass measured by absorptiometry techniques in white women continues into the ninth decade of life. The relationship is strongest for bone density of Ward's triangle and the calcaneus and weakest for the spine.
Document ID
20050000674
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Steiger, P.
(University of California San Francisco)
Cummings, S. R.
Black, D. M.
Spencer, N. E.
Genant, H. K.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Volume: 7
Issue: 6
ISSN: 0884-0431
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: 5-RO1-AG05394
CONTRACT_GRANT: 1-RO1-AG05407
CONTRACT_GRANT: 1-RO1-AR35582
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal
Non-NASA Center

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