If chronic psychological stress elevates cortisol, why does bone density decline more sharply during aging, rather than exhibiting immediate and reversible changes?

💡 Explanation

Chronic stress increases cortisol, leading to increased bone resorption by osteoclasts; because aging processes make osteoclasts resistant to apoptosis, the effect accumulates over time. Therefore, bone density declines more sharply with age, rather than showing immediate changes, as the cellular regulatory mechanisms weaken, rather than hormone compensation fully offsetting the effects.

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