Social Stress May Lead to Bone Loss in Aging Women, Study Says

A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health found one out of two older women in the United States is affected by fractures due to psychosocial stress, reports the International Business Times . Postmenopausal women are particularly susceptible to bone loss on account of reduced estrogen production. The researchers learned that reduced social functioning can weaken bones in the hip and neck, while low social support also can spur a larger decline in bone mineral density (BMD) in the neck. A one-point uptick in the scores of social strain was associated with 0.108 percent greater loss of BMD in the hip, 0.082 percent greater loss of BMD at the neck, and 0.069 percent greater loss of BMD in the lower spine. Also factored into the analysis was age, weight, smoking status, hormone therapy, alcohol use, chronic health problems, physical activity, education, age at menopause, and fracture history.