Insights into muscle and bone quality in postmenopausal women

After menopause, women commonly experience declines in muscle mass, strength, and bone mass, increasing the risk of falls and fractures. Examining how muscle mass and muscle strength relate to bone microarchitecture and muscle structure determined using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) is essential for understanding the interconnected changes that occur within the musculoskeletal system. Exploring these relationships provides clearer insight into how alterations in muscle influence bone health and overall functional capacity. These insights identify key factors that support healthy musculoskeletal aging in postmenopausal women and informs the development of strategies to maintain strength, mobility, and long-term wellbeing.

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About the presenter

Anoohya Gandham

Anoohya Gandham is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Bone Health and Fracture Research Program at the Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research at the Australian Catholic University (ACU). She has completed her PhD through Monash University, Australia. Her PhD investigated body composition and musculoskeletal health in older adults with obesity and sarcopenia. She is a qualified densitometry technician and is proficient in the operation of dual energy X-ray absorptiometer, peripheral quantitative tomography (pQCT) and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT). She has completed her undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree from Monash University, Australia and has completed her honours degree from Deakin University, Australia.

Dr Gandham’s main research interests are related to muscle-bone relationships within the ageing population. She is interested in sarcopenia, obesity and sarcopenic obesity and its effects on the risk of falls, fractures, and disability among the elderly population.