Discovered many new genes related to osteoporosis

One of the largest genetic studies of scientists from the Diamantina Institute, Queensland, Australia, has discovered twice the number of genes that are involved or cause human osteoporosis.

>>>Successfully studying new osteoporosis drugs

The discovery could lead to new ways to identify early risk fractures and develop drugs to treat and improve the condition.

This international-scale study has linked more than 200,000 individuals with osteoporosis and discovered gene variants at 56 points of the genome that affect bone mineral density.

Bone mineral density measurement is the most common method used to diagnose osteoporosis and assess the risk of bone fractures. Associate Professor Emma Duncan said the study identified 14 different types of genes that increase the risk of bone fractures.

By marking the boundaries responsible for bone formation, devices may be developed in the future to predict most cases of early fracture risk.

Dr. Douglas Kiel from Harvard Medical School (USA) said that women with a large number of gene variants that reduce bone mineral density (BMD) have a 56% higher risk of osteoporosis than normal people and 60 % of them suffered from broken bones. However, some individuals with a small number of variants may be protected against osteoporosis and fractures.

Currently in Australia, 25% of women with hip fractures annually die from osteoporosis, while the mortality rate in men is much greater.