The Medical Advisor

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (1), osteoporosis affects approximately 200 million women worldwide, including 1 in 10 women aged 60; 2 in 10 women aged 70; 4 in 10 women aged 80; and two-thirds of women aged 90. Prevalence in all age groups is far higher in women than in men. Across Europe, the rate of prevalence among men ranges between 6.7% and 6.9%. With osteoporosis — brittle bone — comes the risk of bone fractures due to a fall, and hip fractures in particular are notorious for raising an older individual's risk of death (2). An estimated 34 million Americans also have low bone density, known as osteopenia, which raises your risk of fractures and may progress into osteoporosis. As noted in a StatPearls paper on osteopenia (3):  "In the United States, 54% of postmenopausal women are osteopenic, and an additional 30% are already considered osteoporotic. By age 80, this relative trend predictably shifts in favor of osteoporosis as 27% of women are...

One of the most-prescribed drugs in the United States for older adults has been linked to bone loss in a new study, officials said Monday. Researchers with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found in their study that levothyroxine, a synthetic hormone often used to treat hypothyroidism, may be associated with bone loss, a disease that weakens bones and causes them to be more likely to break. Common brand names for levothyroxine include Synthroid, Unithroid, and Tirosint. About 23 million Americans, or around 7 percent of the entire U.S. population, take the medication on a daily basis, according to a news release issued by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), which announced the findings of the study that will be presented at the society’s annual meeting in December 2024. It’s the second-most prescribed medication for older adults in the country, the release said. An article from the Yale School of Medicine in 2023 also noted that around 23 million people ta...

Osteoporosis, a bone disease characterized by low bone mineral density, is becoming more common among older Americans. According to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 10.2 million people over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. In addition, 43.3 million people have low bone mass, which is a precursor to osteoporosis. 1 According to The New York Times, 2  your body will break down more tissue than it can rebuild as you age. If this isn't acted upon, it can make you more susceptible to fractures. Before your skeletal health reaches that point, consider increasing your intake of these nutrients, which are crucial to forming strong bones. Calcium Is Your Skeleton's Foundation Calcium may be the most well-known mineral associated with bone health. In fact, research points out that 98% of your body's calcium is stored in your bones. Moreover, your skeleton acts as a calcium reservoir, drawing from...