ArticleCommunications medicine2025
Characterizing aging-related genetic and physiological determinants of spinal curvature.
Article in Communications medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Lower calcium/phosphorus ratio is associated with the severity of deformity in patients with scoliosis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIncreased spinal curvature is one of the most recognizable aging traits in the human population. However, despite high prevalence, the etiology of this condition remains poorly understood.
methodsTo gain better insight into the physiological, biochemical, and genetic risk factors involved, we developed a novel machine learning method to automatically derive thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis angles from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans in the UK Biobank Imaging cohort. We carry out genome-wide association and epidemiological association studies to identify genetic and physiological risk factors for both traits.
resultsIn 41,212 participants, we find that on average males and females gain 2.42° in kyphotic and 1.48° in lordotic angle per decade of life. Increased spinal curvature shows a strong association with decreased muscle mass and bone mineral density. Adiposity demonstrates opposing associations, with decreased kyphosis and increased lordosis. Using Mendelian randomization, we show that genes fundamental to the maintenance of musculoskeletal function (COL11A1, PTHLH, ETFA, TWIST1) and cellular homeostasis such as RNA transcription and DNA repair (RAD9A, MMS22L, HIF1A, RAB28) are likely involved in increased spinal curvature.
conclusionsOur findings reveal a complex interplay between genetics, musculoskeletal health, and age-related changes in spinal curvature, suggesting potential drivers of this universal aging trait.
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Registered trials
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