title: The effect of factors other than age upon skeletal age indicators in the adult.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Estimation of adult age from skeletal remains is problematic due to the weak and variable relationship between age indicators and age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the proportion of variation in age indicators that is associated with factors other than age and to attempt to identify what those factors might be.
  
  
  METHODS
  The paper focuses on frequently used adult bony age markers. A literature search (principally using Web of Science) is conducted to assess the proportion of variation in age indicators associated with factors other than age. The biology of these age markers is discussed, as are factors other than age that might affect their expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Typically, ∼60% of variation in bony age indicators is associated with factors other than age. Factors including inherent metabolic propensity to form bone in soft tissue, vitamin D status, hormonal and reproductive factors, energy balance, biomechanical variables and genetic factors may be responsible for this variation, but empirical studies are few.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most variation in adult skeletal age markers is due to factors other than age; dry bone study of historic documented skeletal collections and high resolution CT scanning in modern cadavers or living individuals is needed to identify these factors.
authors.affiliation: a Historic England, Fort Cumberland , Eastney , Portsmouth , UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mays
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ageing; auricular surface; cranial suture closure; pubic symphysis; sternal rib end