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Miscellaneous

Osteoporosis: A Risk for HD Women in Long-Term Care Facilities

Featured at the 2003 World Congress on Huntington’s Disease was a study on risk factors for osteoporosis in women with HD who live in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes. (For a listing of the research posters presented at the 2003 World Congress on Huntington’s Disease, please click here.)

Osteoporosis is condition characterized by a reduction in bone mass, making bone fractures much more likely to occur. A previous study showed that female patients living in such facilities had a high incidence of amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea, two risk factors for osteoporosis. Amenorrhea is the absence or abnormal stoppage of menstrual periods, and oligomenorrhea is infrequent or very light menstruation. These two conditions cause estrogen deficiency, which may result in bone loss.

Of the 24 female HD patients (35 to 75 years old) who participated in the study, 79% were either amenorrheic or oligomenorrheic, 76% were non-ambulatory (could not walk), and 52% showed some degree of bone loss on a chest x-ray. In summary, abnormal menstruation, impaired movement, and estrogen deficiency are the major risk factors for osteoporosis. Good bone health is particularly important for HD sufferers because, due to the movement disorder, there is always the risk of falling and, consequently, broken bones.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (http://www.nof.org/), there are five major steps that you can take to promote bone health and prevent osteoporosis:

1. Get your daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D.
2. Engage in regular weight-bearing exercise.
3. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol.
4. Talk to your doctor about bone health.
5. Have a bone density test and take medication when appropriate.

Last Modified: 04/12/2007

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