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07:56
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Age comparisons of bone density and geometry in men
V D Sherk1, M Karabulut, M G Bemben
1Bone Density Research Laboratory, Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA.
Journal of Musculoskeletal & Neuronal Interactions
|December 2, 2009
Summary
Younger men have denser tibia bone than older men. Body composition measurements from DXA and pQCT show age-dependent relationships, impacting bone health assessments.
Area of Science:
- Bone densitometry and body composition analysis.
- Gerontology and human physiology.
Background:
- Bone density and geometry change with age.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for assessing bone health and fracture risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare tibia bone density and geometry in young versus middle-aged men.
- To investigate the relationship between body composition measures from DXA and pQCT across age groups.
Main Methods:
- Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) for total body bone mineral density and composition.
- Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT) for volumetric bone characteristics, muscle, and fat cross-sectional areas in the leg.
Main Results:
- Younger men were lighter with less fat mass than older men.
- Older men exhibited lower volumetric bone density (vBMD) in the tibia.
- Bone-free lean body mass predicted tibial bone area and content; muscle cross-sectional area was a stronger predictor of leg lean mass in older men.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences in tibia bone area and density exist between young and middle-aged men.
- The relationships between DXA- and pQCT-derived body composition variables are age-dependent, influencing interpretation.
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