Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common bone disease that affects over 10 million adults in the United States. Osteoporosis may lead to an increased risk of fractures due to weakening bone tissue, structure, and strength. Screening and evaluation are important to help diagnose osteoporosis. There is no cure for osteoporosis; however, several FDA-approved medications can help reduce fracture rates for patients with osteoporosis. Current FDA-approved pharmacologic options include bisphosphonates, estrogen-related therapy, parathyroid hormone analogs, RANK-ligand inhibitor, sclerostin inhibitor, and calcitonin salmon. Along with medications, several lifestyle modifications can help reduce fracture risks in patients with osteoporosis or low bone density.