Lifestyle

Women 65 and Older Are Advised to Get This Bone-Density Scan. What It Can Catch Before a Break

By Curtis Jones · November 7, 2026

A broken wrist after a small stumble. For many people, that is the first sign that anything was wrong with their bones.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases calls osteoporosis a “silent” disease, because there are typically no symptoms, and you may not know you have it until you break a bone. NIAMS says it is the major cause of fractures in postmenopausal women and in older men. Fractures happen most often in the hip, the spine, and the wrist.

There is a simple test that can find it first. It is a bone mineral density scan, usually called a DEXA or DXA scan. If you have never had one, it may be worth asking about.

Who is it recommended for? The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent volunteer panel, recommends screening for osteoporosis to prevent fractures in women 65 or older. It gives that a B grade, concluding with moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate. The task force updated the recommendation in January 2025 and noted that screening includes a DXA bone density test, with or without a fracture risk assessment.

Younger women can qualify too. For postmenopausal women under 65, the task force suggests a two-step approach. First, a clinician checks for risk factors, such as low body weight, a parent who broke a hip, smoking, or drinking too much alcohol. If at least one is present, a risk assessment tool helps decide whether a DXA scan makes sense.

Men are a less settled question. The task force says the evidence is insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of screening men, and that this is not a recommendation against it. It says clinicians and patients should decide together. MedlinePlus notes that some groups recommend testing men at age 70.

What is the test like? MedlinePlus says a bone mineral density test measures how much calcium and other minerals are in an area of bone. The most common and accurate way is a DEXA scan, which uses low-dose X-rays. MedlinePlus says you get more radiation from a chest X-ray. For a central DEXA, you lie on a soft table while the scanner passes over your lower spine and hip, and in most cases you do not need to undress. The scan is painless. You may be told not to take calcium supplements for 24 hours beforehand and to remove metal items such as jewelry and belt buckles.

How are results reported? Usually as a T-score, which compares your bone density with that of a healthy young woman. MedlinePlus says a T-score of -1.0 or above is in the normal range. A score from -1.1 to -2.4 may mean bone loss, called osteopenia, and a score of -2.5 or below likely means osteoporosis. The test does not diagnose fractures. It helps predict your risk of a future one, along with your other risk factors.

Why it matters. The task force notes that osteoporotic fractures are linked to loss of independence and trouble with daily activities. It says evidence shows only 40% to 60% of people who break a hip recover their earlier level of mobility and ability to handle daily tasks.

What to do next. If you are a woman 65 or older and cannot remember having a bone density scan, ask your doctor whether you are due for one. If you are younger and past menopause, or a man with risk factors such as a fracture after 50 or long-term steroid use, ask whether testing makes sense for you. Bring a list of your medicines, since MedlinePlus lists some, including long-term corticosteroids, as risk factors.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor about whether bone density testing is right for you. This article was produced with the assistance of AI and fact-checked against the sources cited by LightWave Reports.