What Are the Causes of Bone Disease?

Bone disease is classified as any disease that affects the bones. There are numerous types of bone disease, each with different causes. While each disease may have different causes and symptoms, some will be common to many of the conditions. Bone diseases can lead to increased risk of bone fracture as well.

History

• Because new bone tissue is continually being generated to replace older tissue, there are many opportunities in the process for things to go wrong. Originally, medical experts thought bone disease was primarily caused by mechanical faults, but now that it is better understood they have realized that chemical problems contribute to the conditions, often in connection with mechanical problems. This knowledge has advanced the options and efficacy in bone disease treatments.

Types

• There are four main types of bone disease. One of the most common is osteoporosis. A less common class of bone diseases are metabolic disorders. The other two types are acquired skeletal disorders and developmental skeletal disorders. Developmental bone disorders are the rarest type.

Osteoporosis

• Osteoporosis is caused by a number of genetic and lifestyle factors. Women, especially those of Caucasian or Asian descent, are more at risk than other people. Age also affects the development of osteoporosis. The older you are the more likely you are to develop the disease. Your risk also increases if you have a smaller frame and are thin.
  Lifestyle can affect the development of this bone disease as well. Smoking and certain prescription medications increase your likelihood of developing osteoporosis. Lack of adequate vitamin D and calcium in the diet can also contribute to the loss of bone density that leads to osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises, such as running and lifting weights, help build bone tissue density, which lowers your risk.

Metabolic Diseases

• There are several types of metabolic bone diseases. Paget's disease is a condition that affects the process of old tissue being replaced by new tissue within the bone, which is called remodeling. In bone with Paget's disease the bone tissue is not formed properly, which makes it brittle and more prone to fracture. The cause of Paget's disease isn't fully understood, but there appears to be a genetic component. People with variations on certain genes are thought to develop Paget's disease after a viral exposure acts as a trigger.
  Primary hyperparathyroidism is another disease with an undetermined cause. Roughly 5 percent of cases are linked to inherited genetic causes.
  Osteomalacia is a metabolic bone disease that softens the bones. It is caused primarily by lack of vitamin D. People who have Celiac disease or gastric bypass surgery, or who take certain prescription drugs, are at increased risk for this disease because their digestion and absorption of vitamin D is disrupted.
  Renal osteodystrophy is caused by failure of the kidneys to maintain proper levels of phosphorus and calcium in the blood. Roughly 90 percent of patients on dialysis have this bone disease.

Acquired Disease

• There are also several acquired skeletal diseases. Many acquired skeletal diseases are caused by cancer. The overgrowth of cells can occur in the tissue or in the plasma cells.
  According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, and experts haven't found a definitive cause for it yet. They've found some chromosomal abnormalities linked to it though.
  Aseptic necrosis is a disease caused by the loss of blood flow to an area of bone. The bone tissue in that area then dies due to the lack of oxygen and nutrients.
  Neoplasms, masses of cells that either overpopulate or do not die when they are supposed to, can form in bones. They can be benign or a sign of cancer.

Developmental Diseases

• Although much rarer than the other bone diseases, developmental, or congenital, bone diseases do occur. There are two types that are more prevalent. Osteogenesis imperfecta is present from birth and caused by a genetic flaw in the ability to produce healthy bone collagen in proper amounts. Osteopetrosis is also present at birth. It is caused by a disruption in the remodeling of the bone tissue, which results in the bone being too dense.