The loss of bone with age, osteoporosis, and fractures

This classical manuscript brings together available literature three decades ago on measurements of bone density between fracture cases and non-fracture controls. The authors realize the implication of a universal loss of bone with age in normal persons, and suggest that osteoporosis is simply an increase in the rate of age-related bone loss. Analysis of the data leads to the conclusion that: (a) all persons lose bone with age, and (b) that the risk of fracture is largely determined by the amount of bone. The authors demonstrate that the increase in frequency of fractures with advancing age is explained by the universal loss of bone with age.