Bones reside tissue. They consistently break down and rebuild all through our lives. However for a lot of ladies, particularly after menopause, this stability modifications. Bone breaks down quicker than the physique can rebuild it.
Over time, bones grow to be weaker and extra fragile, a situation referred to as osteoporosis, which will increase the danger of fractures within the backbone, hips and wrists. A much less extreme stage referred to as osteopenia means bone density is already decrease than regular and should progress to osteoporosis if nothing modifications.
Osteoporosis is extraordinarily widespread. Greater than 10 million adults in the US have the situation, and about 4 out of 5 of them are ladies. One other 40+ million individuals have osteopenia, placing them liable to creating the illness later in life.
Hormonal modifications play a giant function. When estrogen ranges drop throughout menopause, bone loss accelerates dramatically. Girls can lose as much as 20% of their bone density within the years surrounding menopause.
Regardless of how widespread it’s, osteoporosis is commonly referred to as a “silent illness.” Many individuals don’t know they’ve it till a bone breaks.
And though screening can catch bone loss early, many ladies aren’t getting examined. Consultants suggest routine screening for girls beginning at age 65, or earlier for these with danger components, however screening charges stay low.
The present commonplace take a look at is known as a DEXA scan or DXA scan (brief for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry). It’s a fast, low-dose imaging take a look at that measures bone density, normally on the hip and backbone, to find out whether or not somebody has regular bone density, osteopenia or osteoporosis.
However DEXA scans require a separate appointment at a specialised imaging middle, and many ladies both don’t understand they want one or will not be referred in time.
That’s why higher instruments for screening, prognosis and remedy are so vital. A brand new wave of know-how firms is working to vary how we detect and handle bone well being.
Listed here are 5 improvements serving to transfer bone care into the longer term.
AI that helps healthcare suppliers spot fractures quicker
Synthetic intelligence is bettering how healthcare suppliers (HCPs) interpret medical pictures. BoneView, developed by the medical imaging firm Gleamer, acts like a second set of eyes for radiologists reviewing X-rays.
The AI software program analyzes trauma X-rays in seconds and highlights doable fractures for HCPs to evaluate.
This issues as a result of individuals with osteoporosis or osteopenia can expertise small or delicate fractures, particularly within the wrist, backbone, ribs or hips, that could be simple to overlook on an X-ray. Detecting these fractures shortly may help HCPs acknowledge underlying bone loss earlier and begin remedy to forestall future breaks.
Whereas BoneView doesn’t display for osteoporosis, it could actually assist clinicians establish sufferers who might have a proper bone well being analysis, resembling a DEXA scan, after a fracture is detected.
Research present that the software program can scale back missed fractures by about 30%, pace up studying occasions by 36%, and appropriately rule out fractures 99.5% of the time.
For sufferers, meaning quicker diagnoses and fewer missed accidents. And for some ladies, it may very well be the primary clue that their bones have gotten fragile.
Turning on a regular basis CT scans into bone well being screenings
A CT scan (brief for computed tomography) is an imaging take a look at that makes use of X-rays to create detailed photos of the within of the physique. HCPs typically order CT scans to verify the lungs, coronary heart, stomach or different organs.
AutoBMD AI is software program that may analyze CT scans and estimate bone density concurrently. In different phrases, a scan ordered for one thing like chest ache or belly ache might additionally reveal whether or not somebody could have osteopenia or osteoporosis.
The software program appears to be like on the backbone within the scan and calculates how dense the bone is. It then generates the identical kind of rating HCPs use in conventional bone density exams to find out whether or not bone loss is current.
As a result of the evaluation makes use of scans sufferers are already receiving, HCPs can generally establish bone loss with out scheduling a separate bone density take a look at. One of these screening is commonly referred to as “opportunistic screening” as a result of it takes benefit of medical pictures that exist already.
Early detection is vital. Many ladies don’t know they’ve osteoporosis till they expertise a fracture, which is why instruments that establish bone loss sooner might assist stop future breaks.
A radiation-free option to measure bone density
(Picture/Courtesy Echolight)
For many years, the usual take a look at for bone density has been the DEXA scan, which makes use of low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density.
However an organization referred to as Echolight is introducing a brand new choice. Its know-how makes use of radiofrequency echographic multi spectrometry (REMS), a type of ultrasound, to evaluate bone density and fracture danger.
In contrast to conventional bone scans, REMS know-how makes use of no radiation, will be carried out in minutes, works in common examination rooms and makes use of moveable gear.
This implies bone density testing might finally broaden past radiology departments into major care clinics, wellness facilities and cell well being items.
Simpler testing might assist enhance screening charges, particularly for girls who may in any other case skip a specialised imaging appointment.
Focused medicines designed particularly for bone
(Picture/Courtesy Skeletalis)
Whereas many inventions concentrate on detection, scientists are additionally creating new therapies for osteoporosis.
A biotech firm referred to as Skeletalis is creating a focused drug platform referred to as OASIS (Osteoclast-Activated Skeletal Intervention System).
Right now’s osteoporosis medicines can sluggish bone loss, however some therapies have uncomfortable side effects that restrict long-term use or adherence.
The concept behind OASIS is to ship drugs on to areas the place bone loss is actively taking place, whereas preserving the physique’s pure bone reworking course of.
As an alternative of affecting all the physique, the remedy is designed to pay attention its results within the skeleton, doubtlessly lowering uncomfortable side effects whereas bettering effectiveness.
The corporate lately raised $8 million in funding to advance its first osteoporosis drug candidate into improvement. Though nonetheless in early phases, applied sciences like this symbolize a shift towards precision drugs for bone well being.
A wearable system designed to sluggish bone loss
(Picture/Courtesy Osteoboost)
One of many latest remedy approaches doesn’t contain remedy in any respect.
Osteoboost is a wearable belt that delivers precision vibration remedy to the physique to deal with osteopenia. The system was impressed by analysis initially developed by NASA to assist astronauts preserve bone energy throughout lengthy area missions.
The belt gently vibrates when you put on it for about half-hour a day, sending small mechanical indicators by means of the skeleton. These indicators stimulate bone cells and assist sluggish bone loss.
In a 12-month medical trial, ladies who used Osteoboost a minimum of 3 times per week skilled: 85% much less backbone bone density loss, 83% much less lack of bone energy and 55% much less hip bone density loss in contrast with the management group.
The FDA cleared Osteoboost as a drug-free prescription remedy for osteopenia in postmenopausal ladies, and it was named one among Time journal’s greatest innovations of 2025.
Osteoboost is at present a prescription system that sufferers should pay for out of pocket. The system prices about $995 and isn’t but lined by insurance coverage, though it might be eligible for HSA or FSA reimbursement. Girls want a prescription from a healthcare supplier, however you may order the system on-line as soon as your prescription is accepted.
The way forward for bone well being
For a lot of ladies, bone well being turns into a priority solely after menopause, however consultants say prevention and early detection ought to begin a lot sooner.
The improvements rising at present present how know-how might remodel bone care within the coming years: wWearable gadgets that assist preserve bone energy, AI instruments that detect fractures and osteoporosis earlier, moveable scans that make screening simpler and focused medicines designed particularly for bone biology.
Collectively, these advances might assist extra ladies shield their bones and keep away from the fractures that may dramatically have an effect on mobility, independence and high quality of life. As a result of in terms of bone well being, the perfect remedy is commonly catching the issue earlier than a break ever occurs.
Brittany Barreto, Ph.D., is a podcaster, an entrepreneur, and a molecular and human geneticist. (In different phrases, she’s actually sensible.) Learn her column right here every month to find out about what’s taking place on the earth of know-how and innovation in ladies’s well being.
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