SCS researcher aims to improve bone health in India

Dr Ayse Zengin

SCS researcher Dr Ayse Zengin has been awarded an Australia-India Early/Mid-Career Fellowship from the Australian Academy of Sciences to further her research into the ethnic differences in musculoskeletal health in the ageing population.  

A Research Fellow in the Bone and Muscle Health Research Group, Department of Medicine, Dr Zengin will spend five months in India researching sarcopenia and osteoporosis.

“With the current social, economic, and environmental transition in India, sarcopenia prevalence is estimated to rise,” Dr Zengin said.

“Many studies demonstrate that sarcopenia is an important predictor of poor functional ability and frailty, which in turn, are risk factors for falls and fractures.”

The most common musculoskeletal injury in India is fracture, with 15% of those incurring an open fracture. 

Dr Zengin said the aim of her project is to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and investigate the effects on frailty, fall risk, and bone health in ageing Indian men and women. 

“The escalating burden of chronic non-communicable diseases in low-middle income countries and disadvantaged populations requires the focus of national health agendas,” Dr Zengin said.

“Determining the prevalence of sarcopenia and its subsequent effects on bone health will encourage the formulation of public health strategies to prevent these diseases.” 

Dr Zengin will visit Professor Nikhil Tandon (All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi), Dr Baharati Kulkarni (National Institute of Nutrition India, Hyderabad) and Dr P S Reddy (Society for Health Allied Research and Education (SHARE) India, Telangana).