Bone

Bone loss seems to be a universal and inevitable consequence of aging. The age of onset and rate of bone loss depends on gender and type of bone. Nearly 90 percent of adult skeletal mass is formed by the end of the teenage years. Osteoporosis has been described as a "pediatric disease with geriatric consequences" (Duane Alexander, Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development). Prevention must begin early.

Once peak bone mass is reached between by the age of 30, you can work to maintain what you have but you can't build any more. Around middle age, bone mass begins to gradually decline as aging disrupts the balance between the cells that produce bone and the cells that absorb bone. As the growth of bone slows it begins to thin and become more porous. Women have a more rapid rate of bone loss than men, with the most rapid losses occurring in the 5 years following menopause. Osteoporosis affects about 8 million American women. Eventually, the bones have the strength of an egg shell and even minor trauma can cause the bone to collapse and fracture.