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5 Facts About Paget’s Disease

5 Facts About Paget’s Disease

Jan. 11th, 2022

Paget’s disease of the bone occurs when the bone tissue replacement process is disrupted. Paget’s disease makes bone tissue replace itself faster than normal, which results in bone pain and brittle bone tissue. The pelvis, spine, and legs are the most commonly affected areas.1

Today, January 11th, is Paget’s Disease Awareness Day. Here are 5 facts about Paget’s disease to help you learn more about it as well as how it affects those who have it.

Paget’s Disease was Discovered By Sir James Paget

Sir James Paget was an English surgeon and pathologist who discovered Paget’s disease. He first published his findings in a paper called “On a form of Chronic Inflammation of Bones.”

This paper was published in Medical Chirurgical Transactions, and he originally described Paget’s disease as an inflammatory one. While that ended up not being the case, Paget wrote extensively on a patient who had the disease and named the condition of the erroneous bone tissue replacement he saw osteitis deformans. Because of his dedication to researching the topic, Paget’s disease was formally named after him.

Paget’s Disease is More Common in Older Adults

Paget’s disease affects 1-2% of the population in the United States, and it is more common in older adults. There are a few cases affecting people under 40 years old, but it is estimated to occur in 3% of the population over 60.3

Some common causes of Paget’s include:4

  • Genetics – Those with family members who have Paget’s disease are more likely to get it
  • Age – It is more common in older adults
  • Ancestry – People who are of Anglo-Saxon descent or live in the U.S., England, Australia, New Zealand, and Western Europe are more likely to get Paget’s disease

The First Paget’s Awareness Day was held January 11th 2019

The first Paget’s Disease Awareness Day started in 2019, which was also the 205th anniversary of Sir James Paget’s birth. It was started by The Paget’s Association, an organization that helps to raise awareness and supports funding for Paget’s.5

The Paget’s Association encourages people to wear blue on Paget’s Disease Awareness Day as well as do one small thing to inform the public about the disease. Some ideas you can do to spread awareness include sharing social media articles about Paget’s, informing your family members and coworkers about Paget’s Awareness Day, and volunteering to help an organization in your community that is participating in Paget’s Disease Awareness.

Paget’s Disease Affects Bone Cells

Our bones regenerate bone tissue through a process called bone remodeling. There are two cells that are part of this process: osteoclasts that absorb old bone and osteoblasts that make new bones. It is a similar process to how our skin regenerates itself with new skin cells.

Paget’s disease of the bone affects the osteoclast cells, and they will begin to absorb the old bones faster. The osteoblasts cells work to keep up with the process, resulting in bones that are larger and more brittle.6

It is unclear what causes Paget’s disease to affect the bone cells. Some researchers believe that it could be a virus, however this theory is often disputed in the medical community.

Paget’s Disease is Treated With the Same Medications As Osteoporosis

One interesting fact is that Paget’s disease of the bone is treated with the same medications as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is another bone disease that causes weak and brittle bones, which makes them fracture easily.7

One type of medication that is used to treat both Paget’s Disease and Osteoporosis are Bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates reduce the chance of hip and spine fractures. It is also recommended that those on bisphosphonates maintain their vitamin D and calcium levels to prevent bone breakage.8

Spread Awareness About Paget’s

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Paget’s disease, spreading awareness can help inform and educate people who may also have it. When people are informed, they will find the resources they need.

If you want to learn more about Paget’s disease, visit The Paget’s Association website.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

  1. “Paget’s Disease of the Bone.” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). 3 February 2021. Accessed 7 January 2022. Link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pagets-disease-of-bone/symptoms-causes/syc-20350811
  2. “HISTORY OF PAGET’S DISEASE & THE ASSOCIATION.” Paget’s Association. 7 January 2022. Link: https://paget.org.uk/about-us/history
  3. “Paget’s Disease.” National Organization for Rare Disorders. Accessed 7 January 2022. Link: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/pagets-disease/
  4. “Paget’s Disease of the Bone.” American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo. 7 January 2022. Link: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/pagets-disease-of-bone
  5. “Paget’s Awareness Day – January 11, 2022.” National Today. Accessed 7 January 2022. Link: https://nationaltoday.com/pagets-awareness-day/
  6. “Paget's disease of bone.” NHS. Page last reviewed 31 October 2019. Accessed 7 January 2022. Link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pagets-disease-bone/
  7. “Osteoporosis: Signs and Risk Factors.” Saber Healthcare Group. 20 October 2021. Accessed 7 January 2022. Link: https://www.saberhealth.com/news/blog/osteoporosis-signs-and-risk-factors
  8. Morrison, William. “What is Paget's disease of bone?” Healthline Media, MedicalNewsToday. 30 November 2018. Accessed 7 January 2022. Link: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177668#causes