Bone disorders - The aging bone

Question 1

What happens to the bone as a person ages ?

Answer 1

↑ brittleness
↓ protein synthesis
↓ Collagen type 1

Question 2

What does collagen do to the bone?

Answer 2

Adds strength

Question 3

What type of collagen does old people have ?

What type of collagen do younger people have ?

Answer 3

Older people have weaker non-enzymatic crosslinks, whilst younger adults have enzymatic crosslinks, which make a more rigid structure.

Question 4

What non does non-enzymatic cross-link collagen do ( seen in the elderly)?

Answer 4

Non-enzymatic cross links decrease osteoblast function and increase brittleness.