Medical breakthrough in osteoporosis treatment

Saturday, 18 April 2009 01:47

There is fantastic news for elderly osteopororosis sufferers with a surprising new breakthrough in treatment of the distressing and potentially life threatening disease.

It appears that injecting Forteo, a form of teriparatide can actually revive old bone cartilage. The treatment enables the bones to heal themselves and amazingly cuts down on pain experienced by sufferers of the condition. Wheelchair users treated by the drug have been enabled to walk again and cease dependency on full time care.

It is very unusual for old bones to have the power to heal themselves and so until this breakthrough, elderly sufferers faced being permanently disabled.

Now the bones of elderly bones can heal just as those of "young children". And it takes half the time for older patients to recuperate.

The research which led to the breakthrough was conducted by scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Centre in New York. They are presently working full-time on experimental trials.

The leader of the research team Dr Edward Puza said that the drug increases the number of the body's essential stem cells in the bones.

Dr Puza said:"With careful application of teriparatide, we believe we've found a way to turn back the clock on fracture healing through a simple, in-body stem cell therapy."

  What's this?