Bone Mineral Density Adult Age Estimation in Forensic Anthropology: A Test of the DXAGE Application *

• Jonathan D. Bethard ^[1] ; Jacqueline M. Berger ^[1] ; Justin Maiers ^[1] ; Ann H. Ross ^[2]
  1. [1] University of South Florida

     University of South Florida

     Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] North Carolina State University

     North Carolina State University

     Township of Raleigh, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of forensic sciences, ISSN-e 1556-4029, ISSN 0022-1198, Vol. 64, Nº. 4, 2019, págs. 1125-1128
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Estimating age-at-death of individuals represented only by skeletonized human remains is a fundamental aspect of forensic anthropological casework. Recently, several researchers have proposed that bone mineral density (BMD) is a useful predictor of age-at-death in forensic contexts. Navega et al. (JFS 63(2):497-503) developed an online application called DXAGE for calculating age-at-death from BMD parameters. This study tests the utility of DXAGE by utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). BMD data from a female subsample (n=470) of the NHANES 2007–2008 dataset were analyzed, and the relationship between predicted age and real age was examined. Inaccuracy was 14.25 years, and bias was -7.20 years. Results show that there is a weak correlation between predicted and actual age (r=0.47) using the DXAGE application. While BMD data are potentially useful for predicting age age-at-death, the DXAGE application should be used cautiously in forensic anthropological contexts.