Medication found to 'reduce acceleration of bone loss'

Researchers in Canada have discovered that antiresorptive medication could help reduce risk of hip fracture in older men and women.

A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests that antiresorptive treatment minimises the progression of age-related bone loss, associated with increasing rates of hip fractures in older people.

In response to the latest findings, the researchers report that screening for bone loss can be carried out less frequently.

"The extent of the bone loss that we observed suggests that repeat measurements of bone density could be delayed to intervals of up to five years in the absence of other risk factors," the study's authors wrote.

"We found that use of antiresorptive agents was associated with a reduction in the rate of bone loss at all skeletal sites among participants aged 50 and older."

According to the research, decreases in bone density can start as early as 25 years old in men and 40 years old in women.