A leading York biologist has discovered new evidence about a gene that could hold the key to helping patients with osteoporosis.

Professor Tim Skerry, of the University of York, has just been awarded nearly £94,000 from the Arthritis Research Council to investigate further how the gene works and into changes in bone mass.

Prof Skerry, whose lab opened more than three years ago, is studying how bones respond to activity and movement in a bid to help people whose bones become less strong because of various diseases.

He said: "Changes in bone mass in diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis lead to fracture, pain and disability.

"To understand better how to control bone mass, we are investigating the effects of movement and exercise, which is one of the major influences of bone mass."

He said bones naturally developed cracks as people aged and new bone was formed in a process called remodelling. Exercise made the new bone stronger and ensured it was as strong as the old bone, he said.

Prof Skerry has found that one gene, called Akt, that appears to be regulated by the effects of exercise in bone, improves the survival of cells.

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