National Osteoporosis Awareness Month

May is National Osteoporosis Awareness Month, a time when Hebrew SeniorLife, the Hinda and Marcus Arthur Institute for Aging Research, and health care providers all over the country work to promote good bone health through prevention, detection and treatment of osteoporosis, and to educate vulnerable populations on risk factors.

• Osteoporosis is considered a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, or half of those aged 50 and older.
• An estimated 10 million in the U.S. already have the disease
• Another 34 million Americans have low bone density, putting them at increased risk for osteoporosis and fractures, especially of the hip, spine and wrist.

The goal of the Musculoskeletal Research Center at Hebrew SeniorLife’s Marcus Institute, is to conduct research, test interventions, and disseminate findings on common musculoskeletal conditions associated with aging, including osteoporosis.

In the video below, Douglas Kiel, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center, discusses the things he wishes everyone knew about osteoporosis.