Bone Health and Osteoporosis in Men and Women: Doug Bauer and Stanley Birge

We dive deep into bone health, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fracture prevention in older adults in this week's episode of the GeriPal podcast. Joining us are experts Dr. Doug Bauer and Dr. Stan Birge to break down a wide range of critical topics, including:

• Defining the terms: Clearing up the differences between osteoporosis, osteopenia, and low bone mass.

• Bone Mineral Density (BMD) testing: The evolving role of BMD screening in both men and women.

• Bone health and frailty: How skeletal health intersects with overall physical vulnerability, with discussion on Stan's paper "Osteoporotic fractures: A brain or bone disease?"

• Screening strategies: Evidence-based approaches to identifying low bone mass, including a look at Dr. Bauer's recent JAMA Internal Medicine article, "Screening for Osteoporosis in Older Men—Getting Closer to Yes."

• Non-pharmacologic management: Practical lifestyle, exercise, and nutritional strategies to support bone strength.

• Bisphosphonate deep dive: Navigating complex decisions around oral vs. IV administration, timing "drug holidays," and evaluating efficacy in men.

• Reconsidering denosumab: Why it should rarely serve as first-line therapy.

• Treating osteopenia: Insights from the landmark 2018 NEJM study examining zoledronate treatment in older adults with osteopenia.

• Vitamin D controversies: Sorting through the debate over supplementation, featuring a discussion of Dr. Birge's JAGS article, "Vitamin D: What's the Proper Dose?", AGS last position statement on Vitamin D, and a study on Vitamin D and dementia.

So join us to brush up on bone health, learn a little about the controversies in the field, and hear Alex sing a little Pete Seeger.