As oestrogen levels fall, bone breakdown accelerates. The decline in oestrogen levels due to menopause is the main reason that more women than men suffer from osteoporosis. They often live longer, too, which increases the chance of developing osteoporosis. Once somebody has osteoporosis, they have it for life. Treatments and lifestyle changes can slow the rate of bone loss and fracture rates, but none has yet shown a capacity to restore bone mass to above threshold levels.
Scientists continue to investigate the potential of gene therapy for treating the disease.
Some drugs may be useful in preventing the onset of osteoporosis and reducing its impact in people suffering from the disease. Many women who enter menopause receive hormone replacement therapy to counter the decline in oestrogen levels. Similarly, compounds known as bisphosphonates are drugs that are thought to inhibit bone resorption and therefore reduce the risk of fracture. A recent study showed that another possible treatment, calcium supplements, significantly reduced the risk of fracture. In fact, the reduction in risk was greater than could be explained solely by an increase in bone density.