Bone Mineral Density Screening in People With Epilepsy and Intellectual Disability.

Gandelman-Marton et al. (2024) compared bone checks in two groups. One group had epilepsy plus intellectual disability. The other group had epilepsy only.

They looked at how many people ever had a DXA scan. DXA is the X-ray test that shows bone strength. They also counted who took vitamin D pills.

Zero people with epilepsy plus ID had the scan. That is 0 out of 68.

In the epilepsy-only group, about 12 out of 100 had the scan. More people with epilepsy plus ID were taking vitamin D, but no one checked their bones first.

Mount et al. (2011) already warned that adults with ID have many bone risks. Their review said, "Screen these adults." The new study shows doctors still do not do it.

Aznar et al. (2005) found anticonvulsant drugs weaken bones in people with ID. Revital’s team now shows that even with these drugs, scans are missing.

Lotfizadeh et al. (2020) showed older adults with ID get fewer cancer diagnoses. The same gap appears here: needed tests simply do not happen.

If you support adults with epilepsy plus ID, add DXA to the yearly checklist. No scan means you can’t see osteoporosis until a bone breaks. A quick order saves pain, surgery, and early death. Start today: ask when each client last had a bone scan. If the answer is "never," refer now.