Holocene skeletal samples challenge link between sedentary lifestyles and age-related bone weakening

Research led by Vladimír Sládek sheds new light on how bones age, questioning long-standing assumptions that sedentary lifestyles are the primary cause of weakening bone strength in modern humans.

The study analyzed 1,881 adult humeri, femora, and tibiae from European Holocene populations to examine how bone strength and structure change with age. Surprisingly, researchers found that patterns of diaphyseal (shaft) aging were consistent across both Early and Late Holocene adults—despite significant differences in physical activity levels between the two groups. The research is published in the journal Science Advances.

“Our findings suggest that lifestyle differences may not fully explain age-related declines in bone strength,” said Dr. Sládek. “Instead, the biology of bone growth and aging itself plays a critical role.”

Key findings include:

• Subperiosteal apposition insufficient: While bones attempt to adapt by expanding outward, this process does not fully compensate for the inward expansion of the medullary cavity.
• Gender-specific differences:
  • Diaphyseal strength remained stable in female femora and male long bones overall.
  • However, female humeri and tibiae showed significant age-related declines, pointing to greater vulnerability in upper limbs.
• Upper limbs most affected: Humeri proved more sensitive to aging than femora and tibiae, highlighting the critical role of postnatal growth in maintaining bone health.

Broader implications

The research underscores the importance of growth patterns in early life for counteracting bone loss later in adulthood. It also challenges prevailing views that reduced physical activity in modern societies is the sole driver of age-related skeletal fragility.

“Understanding how bones adapt—or fail to adapt—throughout life is vital not only for anthropology but also for public health,” Dr. Sládek added. “These insights could inform strategies to prevent osteoporosis and related conditions in aging populations.”

This research examined diaphyseal strength and cortical bone loss in Holocene skeletal samples to investigate long-term patterns of bone aging. The work highlights evolutionary and developmental influences on skeletal health across human history.