This Protein Leads To Loss Of Bone In Elderly

Pain in the joints and bones is one of the most common problem that ails any aged person. This often affects their movement. For sure you might have seen your grandparents complaining about knee and pain in bones.

But have you dwelt deep to know what exactly causes this problem in elderly?

Well, in a recent research, scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the US have identified a mechanism that causes the body to stop creating bone-producing cells with age.

During the study led by Yi-Ping Li, Professor at the University have found a protein called Cbf-beta which plays a critical role in maintaining the bone-producing cells.

The research was conducted on aged mice. During the course of the study, researchers found that there were reduced levels of Cbf-beta in bone marrow cells of aged mice as compared to younger mice.

The findings showed when this mechanism malfunctions, progenitor cells stop creating bone-producing cells and instead create fat cells. Hence, maintaining this Cbf-beta may be essential to prevent human age-associated osteoporosis that is due to elevated creation of fat cells, Li said.

The results were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

(With Agency Inputs)