Low spinal bone density linked to faster cognitive decline, study suggests
Johns Hopkins researchers found that reduced bone mineral density in the spine correlates with accelerated cognitive decline and increased brain white-matter changes.
A research team from Johns Hopkins University applied a deep-learning model to chest CT images to calculate mineral density in thoracic vertebrae. Their findings indicate that people with lower baseline bone density showed a faster decline in general cognitive function and a greater buildup of white-matter hyperintensities in the brain, which support executive tasks, working memory and attention. The results, appearing in the journal Radiology, suggest that routine CT scans—already employed for lung-cancer screening and other purposes—might serve as an early-detection tool for individuals vulnerable to both bone loss and neurodegeneration. investigators stress that the observed link does not prove that osteoporosis causes dementia, but may reflect shared risk factors. Early identification could enable preventive measures targeting both bone health and brain aging.
Why it matters
The link could allow doctors to use existing CT scans to spot people at risk for both osteoporosis and cognitive decline early.
In this story
