Longevity & Aging40% of Adults Have Osteopenia and Most Don't Know It Until a Fracture
Osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis, affects roughly 40% of adults worldwide and typically causes no symptoms until a fracture occurs. Bone density peaks in your mid-20s to early 30s, then gradually declines — a process accelerated by menopause, smoking, inactivity, low calcium, and vitamin D deficiency. One in two women over 50 will experience a fragility fracture. Early detection via DXA bone density scans is critical for catching the condition before it progresses. The good news: exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol can meaningfully slow bone loss and, in some cases, partially reverse it. Managing osteopenia early is the most effective strategy to prevent full osteoporosis.
