Anxiety May Ruin Your Bone Health!

…And your bone health may benefit

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Up to 14% of older adults meet the criteria for diagnosis with an anxiety disorder, according to a study. About 27% are thought to have anxiety symptoms that are not considered severe enough for an official diagnosis of anxiety, but which interfere with their quality of life and functioning. Research has linked anxiety to a greater risk for cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal problems, poor sleep, and depression, among other possible complications. And now a recent small study finds an association between anxiety and bone fracture risk in older women.

The study ‘Menopause’ included 192 women, average age 68. Overall, 78% had already had at least one previous fracture and nearly half had a parent who had experienced a hip fracture, both of which raise the risk of fracture. They underwent bone density tests, and completed questionnaires that assessed their anxiety levels by asking about symptoms including fear, tension, headaches, insomnia, and digestive issues.

The data showed that the study participants’ anxiety levels were significantly related to their age, how long ago they went through menopause, and whether or not they had depressive symptoms. Women with the highest levels of anxiety had lower bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and femoral neck (which links the main part of the femur, or thighbone, to the ball that forms the hip joint). These women had a 10-year fracture risk of about 25% compared with a fracture risk of 20% in women with the lowest anxiety levels.