A handheld device for diagnosing the early signs of osteoporosis could be available for clinical use within five years.
The technology is currently being refined and tested at the University of Southampton with support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The original concept was invented at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Unlike existing methods of assessing bone fragility, which measure bone density using X-rays, the device is designed to measure the ability of bone tissue to prevent small cracks growing into full-blown fractures.
It does this by pressing a microscopic needle a tiny distance into the top layer of bone. Measured electronically, the amount of penetration indicates how fragile the bone tissue is and therefore the risk of experiencing an osteoporotic fracture later in life.
Osteoporosis is often referred to as fragile bone disease. However, for many sufferers, the first indication that they have the condition is when they actually sustain a fracture.
Drugs can slow or arrest the development of the disease, but the condition may already be quite advanced by the time the first break has happened. Doctors can estimate an individual’s risk of fracturing by using bone-density measurements and other factors such as age, gender, smoking and any history of fracturing. But the new microindentation technology affordably delivers a fundamentally different measurement that has huge potential to refine such an evaluation.
A normal reading might see the needle sink into the bone by around 20 micrometres (0.02 mm); a reading of 40 micrometres might indicate a significant risk of fracture.
“As the population ages and life expectancy rises in the decades ahead, the cost of treating osteoporotic fractures will increase,” says Professor Philipp Thurner of the University of Southampton, who is leading the project. “One in three women aged over 50 is forecast to experience an osteoporotic fracture in her lifetime and, globally, treatment costs are forecast to reach over US$130 billion by 2050. The potential improvement in assessing osteoporosis and future fracture risk offered by this new technology could reduce the burden of broken bones for individuals, healthcare systems and the economy.
The Latest Bing News on:
Osteoporosis
- Understanding postmenopausal osteoporosis: What every woman should knowon May 18, 2024 at 7:31 pm
Osteoporosis is a debilitating degenerative bone disease that is increasingly prevalent in postmenopausal women. As an orthopedic surgeon, I've encountered countless cases of postmenopausal ...
- 'I'm an Osteoporosis Specialist, and This Is the Type of Cheese I Swear By for Bone Health'on May 18, 2024 at 4:25 am
Indeed, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) recommends calcium consumption. Otherwise, the body extracts the nutrient from the bones, weakening them and ...
- Osteoporosis Newson May 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Feb. 21, 2024 — With ever-increasing life expectancy comes the challenge of treating age-related disorders such as osteoporosis. Although there are effective drugs for treating this metabolic ...
- Conditions That Can Go Along With Crohn’s Diseaseon May 16, 2024 at 5:00 pm
She says people with Crohn’s disease are at higher risk of having multiple chronic illnesses, including colorectal cancer, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, depressive disorders, and nutrient ...
- Graceful Health: Bone density and the silent diseaseon May 16, 2024 at 10:29 am
May is National Women’s Health Month, and I would like to take this opportunity to focus on the importance of Osteoporosis screening for the prevention of fractures. This topic is ...
- Eating 5 or 6 Prunes a Day May Help Preserve Bone Health, Research Showson May 16, 2024 at 9:00 am
A study on postmenopausal women found that daily prune intake could lower inflammatory markers linked to osteoporosis.
- Rheumatism: Taking cortisone with antacids can diminish bone densityon May 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a specific class of antacid drugs, are among the most widely used medications of all. They are frequently prescribed to many groups of patients, including those with ...
- Specific Disease Factors Linked to Osteoporosis Risk in Patients With Systemic Sclerosison May 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Age, specific disease-related elements, and treatment with glucocorticoids independently affect the risk for osteoporosis among patients with systemic sclerosis. Age, specific disease-related elements ...
- NIH-Funded Study Shows BDI's Bone Density Test Using Existing CT Images Predicts Fractureson May 14, 2024 at 10:37 am
An NIH-funded study recently published in Osteoporosis International found that a bone density test (the gold standard for diagnos ...
- Evenity vs. Prolia: Which Is Better for Osteoporosis?on May 14, 2024 at 9:35 am
Medically reviewed by Lindsay Cook, PharmD Osteoporosis is a common bone disease characterized by the progressive loss of bone mass and bone density. Osteoporosis occurs with aging. Since osteoporosis ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Osteoporosis
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Osteoporosis” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Diagnosing the early signs of osteoporosis
- Osteoporosis Symptoms: Signs Of The Bone Disease That Women Should Knowon May 15, 2024 at 3:15 am
Osteoporosis is a condition wherein your bones become weak due to poor bone density. The condition affects one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 across the world. Reports say that ...
- Early signs and symptoms of lung canceron May 13, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Most people do not experience lung cancer symptoms during early stages but may notice signs if it spreads ... people to identify symptoms and seek a diagnosis as soon as possible.
- Signs of juvenile diabetes in your childon May 6, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Recognizing the early signs of diabetes in children can lead to prompt diagnosis and treatment, which is essential for managing the disease and preventing complications. Here are several symptoms ...
- When is the best time to take your vitamins?on May 6, 2024 at 9:08 am
Chief Medical Officer at Central DuPage Hospital Dr. Tom Moran joins Bob Sirott to explain how to spot the early signs of osteoporosis and when is the best time to take your vitamins. He also ...
- Testicle in stomach: Chinese lady shocked as doctors declare her a manon May 5, 2024 at 10:50 am
A Chinese woman's routine medical exam revealed a hidden testicle, prompting doctors to diagnose her with a rare genetic condition.
- 8 Early Signs of Autism in Infants & Toddlers That Every Parent Should Knowon April 30, 2024 at 7:49 am
If your child does exhibit early signs of autism, a diagnosis is the crucial first step to meeting their needs.
- Blood Test Might Predict Knee Osteoarthritis Years Earlyon April 28, 2024 at 5:00 pm
A special blood test spots the early signs ... help doctors spot the signs of knee osteoarthritis at least eight years before it shows up on X-rays, a new study claims. After analyzing the blood of ...
- Recognizing the early signs of psoriatic arthritison April 21, 2024 at 5:00 pm
For others, PsA symptoms can quickly become severe. Knowing the early signs of PsA is critical for receiving a timely diagnosis and treatment. This article includes personal stories from an ...
- Signs and Symptoms of Osteoporosison January 17, 2024 at 8:15 am
Symptoms of osteoporosis can be silent in the early stages, as you may not have any obvious signs of the condition. But as osteoporosis progresses, the condition can cause pain and an increased ...
- Signs of dementia seen 18 years before diagnosison July 16, 2023 at 6:51 pm
find out about very early signs of dementia. A study of over 2,000 people has shown a test of memory and thinking can reveal differences in people who go on to develop Alzheimer's disease up to 18 ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Diagnosing the early signs of osteoporosis
[google_news title=”” keyword=”diagnosing the early signs of osteoporosis” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]