Structural change for a woman Jawline can help with predictions Age-related height loss, according to a new study published this month.
peer-reviewed articles, Published in Academic Journal BMJsuggested that dentists should use their privileged information to talk to patients about preventing jaw shrinkage.
According to the study, after the age of 75, the height of women starts decreasing rapidly. This is problematic because shrinkage is associated with an increased risk of poor health and death.
Why do people experience loss of height?
There is no consensus in the scientific community on the causes of height loss. However, it has been suggested that progressive skeletal deformityFallen arches in the feet and altered posture, or degenerative processes including osteoporosis, compressed or lost discs in the spine, and vertebral fractures can all play a role.
How did the researchers reach their conclusions?
Researchers seek connection between general bone healthcortical erosion, meaning loss of the outer layer of bone, and trabecular rarefaction in the jawbone of 933 female participants.
All women, who came from Sweden, are being evaluated since 1968. All the women were either 38, 46 or 54 when they first joined the study.
A health checkup was performed on each participant during the data collection period, including measurement of their height and weight, and dental examinations at least twice during the monitoring period.
To calculate the reduction in height, the researchers collected data on participants’ height over three periods of 12–13 years.
The participants’ average height loss occurred between 0.075 cm, 0.08 cm and 0.18 cm annually during the three observation periods. This resulted in an overall loss in height of 0.9 cm, 1 cm and 2.4 cm for all three periods.
The percentage of participants with severe cortical erosion increased from 3% in 1968–80 to over 11% in 1980–92 and to slightly less than 50% in 1992–2005.
Similarly, the percentage of sparse trabeculations increased from 20+% in 1968–80 to 33.5% in 1980–92 and to approximately 42% in 1992–2005.
Throughout the study, the researchers found that those with severe cortical erosion and those with sparse trabeculation experienced greater height loss.
Limitations of the Study
Since the study is observational, it is not entirely reliable to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Correlation doesn’t mean causation.
Additionally, not every participant who started the study completed it. This means a smaller sample size and there is a risk that the data may be skewed.
The structural changes observed in the jaw bones of the participants could possibly be those of the vertebrae. This would explain the possible altitude loss.
The researchers state, “Since most individuals visit their dentist and have radiographs taken at least every 2 years, collaboration between dentists and physicians may open opportunities to predict the risk of height loss in the future.” Is.”