Over the past decade, research assessing the prevalence of low bone mineral density for people with developmental disabilities has provided evidence that this population is at high risk for osteoporosis (Aspray et al., 1998; Center, Beange, & McElduff, 1998; Jaffe, Timell, & Gulanski, 2001; Jaffe & Timell, 2003; Kao, Chen, Wang, & Yeh, 1992; Sepulveda et al., 1995). This past weekend in a congressional hearing preceding the Special Olympics in Ames, Iowa, CDC Director Julie Gerberding and former Surgeon General Antonia Novello underscored health disparities for people with developmental disabilities, one of which was osteoporosis, thereby acknowledging it is an important health issue to address in this population.
The complete column is at http://www.ncpad.org/386/2130/Focus~on~Secondary~Condition~Prevention~~Osteoporosis~Risk
~and~Low~Bone~Mineral~Density~in~People~with~Developmental
~Disabilities.