What can be changed, however, is the degree of that loss. Boning Up On Osteoporosis Bones are organs, with their own system of blood, lymphatic vessels, and nerves. Bone reaches its peak density between the ages of 25 and 30. Inside the bone is a delicate latticework of arches and struts called trabecular bone. The top of the hip, the wrist, and the spine are areas that have a large concentration of trabecular bone, and it's this type of bone that is the first to lose its density.
Most osteoporotic fractures involve the hip, wrist, and spine.
Between the ages of about 30 and until a woman reaches menopause, bone is usually lost at a rate of less than 1 percent each year. During the menopausal years, a woman can lose as much as 30 percent of her bone density. As bones become progressively weak and brittle, even a slight shifting of weight can cause osteoporotic fractures. Gender, race and a family history of osteoporosis appear to be the major risk factors in the development of the disease. Women are about four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men because of their smaller, lighter bones.