Bone mineral density from early to middle adulthood in persons with Down syndrome.
Men with Down syndrome show accelerated bone loss in their 30s–40s, so order a DEXA scan by age 35.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers tracked bone density in adults with Down syndrome. They compared spine readings to adults without the condition. The study looked at people moving from early into middle adulthood.
What they found
Men with Down syndrome lost bone faster than women. The gap showed up in their 30s and 40s. Their spine bones were weaker than same-age peers.
How this fits with other research
Geurts et al. (2008) first saw low spine density in young Down syndrome adults. The new study shows the problem gets worse after 30, especially for men.
Reza et al. (2013) proved weight-bearing exercise boosts bone in Down syndrome kids. The adult data now back the same fix for grown-ups.
Waldron et al. (2023) found similar low bone mass in Brazilian adults. The result repeats across countries, so the risk looks global.
Why it matters
Schedule a DEXA scan for your male clients by age 35. Add weight-bearing walks, stair climbing, or light jumps to daily programs. Stronger bones mean fewer fractures and less pain during transfers later.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: While accelerated ageing is recognised among individuals with Down syndrome (DS), the trajectory of their bone health across adulthood remains poorly understood. METHODS: This study aimed to determine the age-related loss of bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine in 128 adults with DS aged 18 to 54 years compared with 723 counterparts without DS. RESULTS: Men and women with DS had lower level of BMD than counterparts without DS across age groups. Magnitude of decrement in BMD as reflected in the z-scores was similar between younger and older men with DS. Older women with DS, on the contrary, showed greater decrement in older ages especially in their fourth decade of life. Osteopenia and osteoporosis as defined using age-specific and gender-specific T-scores affected greater number of men with DS (38% and 25%) than women (17% and 17%) aged 40-49 years. CONCLUSIONS: Findings supported adults with DS, especially men, to have early bone mineral testing.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2019 · doi:10.1111/jir.12608