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Review
. 2017 Dec;1410(1):93-106.
doi: 10.1111/nyas.13572.

Bone quality changes associated with aging and disease: a review

Adele L Boskey  1   2 , Laurianne Imbert  1
Affiliations
Review

Bone quality changes associated with aging and disease: a review

Adele L Boskey et al. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017 Dec.

Erratum in

Abstract

Bone quality encompasses all the characteristics of bone that, in addition to density, contribute to its resistance to fracture. In this review, we consider changes in architecture, porosity, and composition, including collagen structure, mineral composition, and crystal size. These factors all are known to vary with tissue and animal ages, and health status. Bone morphology and presence of microcracks, which also contribute to bone quality, will not be discussed in this review. Correlations with mechanical performance for collagen cross-linking, crystallinity, and carbonate content are contrasted with mineral content. Age-dependent changes in humans and rodents are discussed in relation to rodent models of disease. Examples are osteoporosis, osteomalacia, osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), and osteopetrosis in both humans and animal models. Each of these conditions, along with aging, is associated with increased fracture risk for distinct reasons.

Keywords: FTIR imaging; bone composition; microCT; osteogenesis imperfecta; osteoporosis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic illustrating bone quality variables that contribute to fracture risk.
Figure 2
Figure 2
FTIR spectrum obtained from a single pixel (6.25 × 6.25 µm2) of an FTIR image. Formulae included for key parameters including mineral/matrix and carbonate/mineral (or carbonate/phosphate) from shaded peak areas and crystallinity, collagen crosslink ratio and acid phosphate substitution from peak height intensities.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlations between age and FTIRI variable for (A) cortical and (B) cancellous bone were calculated using data for healthy women using GraphPad Prism (version 7.0). Only significant correlations are presented. In some cases, specific parameters, e.g. acid phosphate substitution and carbonate/phosphate, were not measured in all studies due to instrument limitations. Solid lines represent best-fit correlations and dotted lines 95% confidence limits.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlations between age and FTIRI variable for (A) cortical and (B) cancellous bone were calculated using data for healthy women using GraphPad Prism (version 7.0). Only significant correlations are presented. In some cases, specific parameters, e.g. acid phosphate substitution and carbonate/phosphate, were not measured in all studies due to instrument limitations. Solid lines represent best-fit correlations and dotted lines 95% confidence limits.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Typical stress-strain curves from 3-point-bending tests of male and female aga2/+ mice and their wild-type controls. The aga2/+ mice curves end abruptly, showing no post-yield behavior, a characteristic of brittle bone tissue.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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