Researchers at Seoul National University Hospital have confirmed a close correlation between cerebrovascular disease and bone density decline, finding a candidate link that simultaneously causes both symptoms.

The research team, led by Professor Kim Jung-min, surveyed 1,190 patients hospitalized for strokes.

They used the patient's basic information and their records of hypertension, diabetes, brain MRI images and bone density X-rays, dividing cerebrovascular disease into four stages -- 0 points, 1 point, 2 points, 3-4 points – and bone density into three stages -- normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.

The researchers observed osteoporosis in about 23.9 percent of patients and osteopenia in 37.8 percent of the total. Six out of 10 stroke patients suffered from decreased bone density.

By analyzing the relationship between the decreases in bone density and cerebrovascular disease, the team also confirmed that patients with low bone density had a higher risk of suffering from cerebrovascular disease and that the tendency increased in the case of hypertensive cerebrovascular disease.

In an additional study of 70 patients, the team found a link that formed a correlation between the two, confirming that the expression of miR-378f increased in both patients with osteoporosis and severe cerebrovascular disease.

"Through this study, we confirmed that a significant number of stroke patients have a decrease in bone density," Professor Kim said. "In the future, there is a need for various follow-up studies to determine the exact pathophysiology of cerebrovascular disease and to establish an appropriate treatment strategy."

The study was published in the recent issue of Neurology.