Changes in diaphyseal cross-sectional properties with age in macaques

The present study seeks to quantify changes in long bone cross-sectional properties in a colony of semi-free-ranging rhesus macaques and compare observed aging patterns to those of other primates, including humans.

Peripheral quantitative computed tomography was used to obtain midshaft cross sections of the femora, tibiae, humeri, and radii of 115 macaque specimens ranging from 7 to 31 years of age. Linear regressions of cross-sectional properties on age were analyzed. An analysis of covariance was conducted to quantify differences in rates of change between males and females.

Results show that medullary area increases while cortical area decreases with age in both sexes. The polar section modulus and the polar strain-strength index, measuring torsional and bending strength, show no decline in most sections but decrease significantly with age in the hindlimb elements of female macaques. Volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) also decreases with age in both male and female macaques; however, the cumulative change in vBMD over the adult lifespan is relatively small, equivalent to a less than 10% decrease in material strength. An analysis of covariance shows no differences between males and females in the rate of change of properties with age.

Overall, this study shows that there are some similarities in the skeletal aging patterns of macaques and those of other primates, including humans, but also some differences, with greater losses of bone found in human females as a result of an extended post-reproductive period that is generally not found among wild or semi-wild macaques.