The term bone density is medically called Bone Mineral Density (BMD). The BMD is calculated as the measurement of the calcified tissue within the bones and the estimation of the bone strength. If a person suffers from the term know as ?Thin bones? they will have less calcified tissue in a given volume of their bones. From the outside the bone would look the same, however they would have less of the protein and calcium that you would find in a healthy one. This would mean that the bone density would be weaker so there would be more of a chance that a fracture could occur.

Bone mineral density is used to diagnose osteoporosis, where due to the bone having less protein and calcium within, causes the structure to be weakened thus resulting in the possibility of a fracture. So suffering from osteoporosis would in turn cause the reduction in your bone density. Plus there are other causes that can cause the reduction in your bone density, one being a reduction in the mineralization (calcification) of the bone as a result of being deficient in vitamin D or calcium. This condition is known as osteomalacia.

As expected density in the very young is low, however as the person matures into young adulthood the density increases. Indeed it peaks in a young person.

There are many reasons why the density decreases in a person. The main difference between men and women is that due to the women going thought menopause their density decreases at a greater rate. This is due to the reduction of the ovarian hormone and oestrogen at this crucial time. Oestrogen is very important in maintaining density thus strength in a women's bones. Therefore the age a women starts her menopause are very important factors in determining when her bone density will occur. Plus it may bring on the serious risk of osteoporosis.

If a person is on certain kinds of medication this may bring on the onslaught on bone mineral density reduction. If a person is suffering from arthritis or asthma then their GP may put them on Prednisone. If they are on chemotherapy this will enhance their chance of suffering from bone density. If their lifestyle means that they smoke or they have a high intake of alcohol this will not help their cause against suffering from a reduction in their bone mineral density. It has been discovered that it can be past from generation to generation although it is not known why? So if osteoporosis or weak bones causing fractures is in family there is a good chance that reduced bone density will be passed on.