Bone density in peripubertal boys with autism spectrum disorders.
Peripubertal boys with autism have weaker bones that start young and lead to more breaks, so build weight-bearing movement into daily sessions.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team compared bone density in boys with autism and boys without it.
All boys were between 8 and 14 years old and going through puberty.
Doctors used a low-radiation scan to measure spine, hip, and femur neck strength.
What they found
Boys with autism had weaker bones at every spot tested.
The gap stayed even after the team adjusted for height, weight, and vitamin use.
Lower scores mean higher fracture risk later in life.
How this fits with other research
Barnhill et al. (2017) saw the same spine weakness in younger boys aged 4-8.
Together the two papers show the problem starts early and lasts.
Perez et al. (2015) later tracked fractures and found kids and adults with autism break hips more often.
That study turns the low scores you see here into real-world injuries.
Jean-Arwert et al. (2020) add one reason: school-age boys with autism move about half as much as peers.
Less running and jumping means bones get fewer growth signals.
Why it matters
You can’t feel low bone density, so it gets missed until a break happens.
Add quick questions about milk, vitamin D, and daily movement to your intake.
Schedule weight-bearing play—jumping, climbing stairs, carrying backpacks—into sessions.
A five-minute obstacle course today can save a cast tomorrow.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
We determined whether bone mineral density (BMD) is lower in boys with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) than controls, and also assessed variables that may affect BMD in ASD. BMD was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 18 boys with ASD and 19 controls 8-14 years old. Boys with ASD had lower BMD Z-scores at the spine, hip and femoral neck, and differences at the hip and femoral neck persisted after controlling for maturity and BMI. Vitamin D intake from food and in serum were lower in ASD subjects, as was exercise activity. We conclude that BMD is lower in peripubertal boys with ASD and may be associated with impaired vitamin D status and lower exercise activity.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2013 · doi:10.1007/s10803-012-1709-3