Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is not just about the gradual loss of bone mass, as many people believe.

It is a chronic disease of bone metabolism (i.e. normal remodeling), in which there is a gradual decrease in their density and quality, resulting in them becoming more fragile and thin over time.

This causes an increased risk of bone fracture, as their durability and elasticity decrease.

Photo: changes observed in bone physiology due to osteoporosis and schematic illustration of height loss in women over the years due to osteoporosis.

Increased risk for women

Despite the fact that women have less bone mass, they are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis.  Studies have shown that after the age of 40, bone mass in women decreases by 1-5% per year.

In contrast, bone mass in men decreases by less than 1% per year. This large difference in the rate of bone loss is due to the loss of estrogen due to menopause in women.

Height Loss

Remember the grandma and grandpa who seemed to Does height decrease with age?

Height loss in old age is theoretically due to vertebral fractures. In women, 60-70% over 65 years of age have at least one (and possibly more) vertebral fracture due to increased stress.