2,000 pairs of twins to help St Thomas's Hospital research into wrist fractures
Two thousand pairs of twins from all over the country are taking part in a new research study into wrist fractures run by doctors at St Thomas's Hospital.
The research project, funded by a grant of £81,100 from medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign, will examine the genetic and environmental influences on wrist fractures, which affect one in five women and is one of the first signs of the bone-thinning condition of osteoporosis.
More than three million people in the UK suffer from the disease, mainly women after the menopause, and 40 people die each day as a result of osteoporosis-related fractures.
Dr Tim Spector, director of the Twins Research Unit at St Thomas's, will lead a team screening 2,000 pairs of female twins aged over 35 for wrist fractures, then examine in detail the risk factors of their developing osteoporosis.
Bone density and other tests will be carried out at the hospital on the women volunteers, who are expected to travel from all over the UK.
"The importance of wrist fractures lies in the fact that they are risk factor and a future predictor of more severe spinal and hip fractures," explained Dr Spector.
While it is well known that bone density is influenced by a person's genetic make-up, risk factors for fractures may be caused by other reasons, such as lifestyle or different sets of genes.
"There is not very much data on the genetics of fracture, and by using twins we hope to answer these important questions," added Dr Spector. "In addition, while collecting twins where one has a fracture and the other does not, we can explore the possible lifestyle differences between them that will give clues as to the causes of the fracture."
The Twins Unit is appealing for more volunteer twins – identical or non-identical, aged 18 or over – to call to Twin Hotline on 0990 77099.
