Bone Mineral Density in Adults Disabled Through Acquired Neurological Conditions: A Review

Journal of Clinical Densitometry

Volume 14, Issue 2 , Pages 85-94, April 2011

Bone Mineral Density in Adults Disabled Through Acquired Neurological Conditions: A Review

Áine Carroll

Received 10 June 2010; received in revised form 12 December 2010; accepted 13 December 2010. published online 07 April 2011.

This article is a review of the changes in bone mineral density (BMD), which occur in a number of acquired neurological conditions resulting in disability.

For each of

• spinal cord injury,

• stroke,

• multiple sclerosis,

• Parkinson’s disease, and

• traumatic brain injury,

the following aspects are discussed, where information is available:

• prevalence of low BMD according to World Health Organization diagnostic categories and recommended diagnostic method,

• prevalence based on other diagnostic tools,

• comparison of BMD with a control population,

• rate of decline of BMD following onset of the neurological condition,

• factors influencing decline;

  • mechanism of bone loss, and

  • fracture rates.

The common risk factors of immobilization and vitamin D deficiency would appear to cross all disability groups, with the most rapid phase of bone loss occurring in the acute and subacute phases of each condition.