PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Elizabeth M Curtis AU - Rebecca J Moon AU - Elaine M Dennison AU - Nicholas C Harvey AU - Cyrus Cooper TI - Recent advances in the pathogenesis and treatment of osteoporosis AID - 10.7861/clinmedicine.15-6-s92 DP - 2015 Dec 01 TA - Clinical Medicine PG - s92--s96 VI - 15 IP - Suppl 6 4099 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/15/Suppl_6/s92.short 4100 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/15/Suppl_6/s92.full SO - Clin Med2015 Dec 01; 15 AB - Over recent decades, the perception of osteoporosis has changed from that of an inevitable consequence of ageing, to that of a well characterised and treatable chronic non-communicable disease, with major impacts on individuals, healthcare systems and societies. Characterisation of its pathophysiology from the hierarchical structure of bone and the role of its cell population, development of effective strategies for the identification of those most appropriate for treatment, and an increasing armamentarium of efficacious pharmacological therapies, have underpinned this evolution. Despite this marked progress, individuals who experience a fragility fracture remain under-treated in many areas of the world, and there is substantial need for investment both in secondary and primary prevention globally. In this brief article, we give an overview of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, and summarise current and future approaches to its assessment and ­treatment.