Comparisons of contemporary living populations and archeological skeletal populations suggest declines in bone density and strength that have been occurring since the Pleistocene. Studies of skeletal populations demonstrate the role of subsistence strategies, social context, and occupation in the development of skeletal strength.
Studies of contemporary populations show that growth, body composition, sexual maturation, physical activity, nutritional status, and dietary intake are determinants of childhood bone accretion, and provide context for interpreting bone strength and osteoporosis in skeletal populations. Here we discuss the evolutionary implications of osteoporosis as a disease with developmental origins that is shaped by the interaction among genes, behavior, health status, and the environment during the attainment of peak bone mass. Peak bone mass is attained in young adulthood, well after the cessation of linear growth, and is a major determinant of osteoporosis later in life. During growth and development, there are rapid gains in bone dimensions, mass, and strength. Osteoporosis is thought to have origins in childhood.
This common disease of aging results from a state of bone fragility that occurs with low bone mass and loss of bone quality. Osteoporosis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in contemporary populations.
0 kommentar(er)
