A collaborative study between researchers at Arizona State University and NASA have uncovered a new procedure that may be more effective at testing bone density than X-rays. The findings were published in the May 28 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The new procedure closely monitors the isotopes within the calcium in bones. It requires no ingesting of traceable inks and uses no radiation like X-rays. Thus far researchers have found no appreciable risks associated with the procedure.
"Osteoporosis, a disease in which bones grow weaker, threatens more than half of Americans over age 50," explained lead researcher Ariel Anbar of ASU.
"Bone loss also occurs in a number of cancers in their advanced stages. By the time these changes can be detected by X-rays, as a loss of bone density, significant damage has already occurred," Anbar said. "Also, X-rays aren't risk-free. We think there might be a better way."
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