AI-Powered X-ray Analysis for Early Osteoporosis Detection

Researchers have developed an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of estimating bone mineral density (BMD) from X-ray images of the lumbar spine and femur. This breakthrough technology, detailed in the rournal of Orthopaedic Research, analyzes a dataset of 1,454 X-ray images to identify early signs of osteoporosis and osteopenia with impressive accuracy. The system demonstrated sensitivity rates of 86.4% for the lumbar spine and 84.1% for the femur when detecting bone density loss, along with specificities exceeding 76%. These figures indicate the AI’s strong performance in correctly identifying patients with and without osteopenia and osteoporosis.

"Bone mineral density measurement is crucial for screening and diagnosing osteoporosis," explained Dr. Toru Moro from the University of Tokyo. "However, limited access to diagnostic equipment means many individuals worldwide remain undiagnosed. This AI system offers a promising solution by transforming routine X-ray scans into tools for opportunistic screening, enabling earlier and more widespread detection of osteoporosis."

This advancement highlights the potential of AI to enhance clinical diagnostics by making bone health assessment more accessible and efficient, potentially reducing the global burden of osteoporosis through earlier intervention. For more details, see the full study at the Journal of Orthopaedic Research (2025). source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-aibased-early-osteoporosis-ray-images.html.