Bone health and fractures
Bones become thinner with age, and thinner bones break more easily. Often the first anyone knows about it is a fracture.
Some people are at more risk than others: anyone who has already broken a bone in later life, anyone who has had steroids for a long period, anyone who has lost height, anyone whose parent broke a hip. Parkinson's raises the risk too, partly through unsteadiness and falls, and partly through effects on the bone itself.
The useful thing is that fracture risk can be measured and it can be reduced. Treatment is straightforward, generally well tolerated, and there is good evidence for it. Many people at high risk of breaking a bone and are not receiving treatments to reduce this risk.
How Professor Henderson can help
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Assessing your fracture risk formally, taking into account your medical history, medications and falls risk.
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Recommending a bone density scan where one is needed, and explaining what the result means.
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Looking for underlying causes of thinning bone, including vitamin D, calcium, thyroid and kidney function.
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Discussing bone protection treatment, including what each option involves and how long it is usually taken for.
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Reviewing medications that may be weakening your bones or increasing your risk of falling.
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Advice on exercise, diet and vitamin D.
Professor Henderson's research includes the development of a fracture risk assessment tool for people with Parkinson's disease.