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Bone mineral density plays a crucial role in the prediction and detection of fracture. People who suffer from dementia often end up losing their independence forever.

However awareness about the level of bone loss that exist before the beginning of dementia could surely help in planning out coping strategies and effective preventive measures for the patients. To understand this, researchers examined the link between bone mineral density and dementia incidence. This study that appeared in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology concluded that people with low bone mineral density suffer high chances of developing dementia. 

Actually the researchers’ first examined healthcare data and demographic data from 3, 651 dementia-free participants who’s X-rays were taken to determine their bone health between 2002 and 2005. The average age of patients was around 72 years old out of which 57.9% were women. In the next 11 years, 18.8% of participants developed dementia among which 76.7% developed Alzheimer’s disease. 

The researchers found that people with low total body mineral bone density and lower bone mineral density in the femoral neck are more prone to dementia.They also found that a low trabecular bone score- a measure of bone microarchitecture in the lower spine — was linked to increased dementia risk. Also low bone mineral density increased dementia risk in males but not females.

Dr. Robert Wiggins, a neurologist at Novant Health agreed to the conclusion and said: “Bone and brain health are both dependent on a complex interaction between hormonal, nutritional, genetic, and other external, environmental factors. What we know though, is that things like a nutritious diet and active lifestyle will lead to both improved bone and brain health. Future research will investigate whether there is something inherent about low bone density that causes the increased dementia risk, or if a factor common to both bone and brain health is causing this association.”

Dr. Karen D. Sullivan, a board certified neuropsychologist and owner of I CARE FOR YOUR BRAIN in Pinehurst, North Carolina, not involved in the study, told MNT: “The implications of this study are that people who have low bone density may be at higher risk for developing dementia. This study adds to the compelling body of research that suggests that maintaining bone health integrity is an important part of success aging”.