BONE MASS AND DEMENTIA IN HIP FRACTURE PATIENTS FROM AREAS WITH DIFFERENT ALUMINIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN WATER SUPPLIES

Abstract

The relationship between bone mass and dementia in elderly hip fracture patients from areas with different aluminium concentrations in water supplies has been investigated, to determine whether a high concentration of aluminium in the drinking water and the negative calcium balance of age-related osteoporosis together predispose to senile dementia. Mental test scores were recorded on admission to hospital, and Singh indices of radiographs taken at that time assessed blind by a single trained observer. No significant difference in either mental test score ( X =1.253, df=2, P =0.53) or Singh index ( X =1.039, df=5, P =0.96) was found between patients resident in high versus low water aluminium areas. No correlation was detectable between mental test score and Singh index ( X =0.95, df=1, P =0.33).