Which statement about aging effects on spinal bone is true?

Which statement about aging effects on spinal bone is true?

• A. No change in bone density
• B. Bone density decreases with age
• C. Only limbs experience bone density loss
• D. Bone density increases with age

Answer: (B)

As people age, bone remodeling shifts toward more resorption and less formation, with hormonal changes (like lower estrogen) and reduced vitamin D contributing to this decline. The spine has a lot of trabecular (cancellous) bone, which is particularly vulnerable, so vertebral bodies lose density and can compress, leading to height loss and kyphosis. This makes bone density decrease with age the true statement. The other ideas—no change, only limbs losing density, or density increasing with age—don’t fit because bone loss is systemic and accumulates over time, especially in the spine.

As people age, bone remodeling shifts toward more resorption and less formation, with hormonal changes (like lower estrogen) and reduced vitamin D contributing to this decline. The spine has a lot of trabecular (cancellous) bone, which is particularly vulnerable, so vertebral bodies lose density and can compress, leading to height loss and kyphosis. This makes bone density decrease with age the true statement. The other ideas—no change, only limbs losing density, or density increasing with age—don’t fit because bone loss is systemic and accumulates over time, especially in the spine.