Brazil confronts rising bone fragility from osteoporosis and rare 'glass bone' disease

Osteoporosis, a silent condition that weakens bones and raises fracture risk, affects an estimated 10 million Brazilians. Health experts stress that daily habits—avoiding smoking and excess alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and engaging in weight‑bearing exercise—are the primary means of preventing the disease, especially in women over 65 and men over 70. The International Osteoporosis Foundation projects that in coming decades one in three women and one in five men over 50 will suffer related fractures worldwide.

In a separate case highlighting a rare form of bone fragility, 14‑year‑old Miguel Santos Cartezzani from Paulínia (São Paulo) lives with osteogenesis imperfecta, popularly called “glass‑bone disease.” Diagnosed prenatally, Miguel has undergone five surgeries to correct deformities and reduce fracture risk. His story underscores the challenges faced by individuals with genetic bone disorders, complementing the broader public‑health focus on osteoporosis prevention.