Is this why people go bald? Your hair may be ‘stressed,’ new study finds

Could a cure for baldness be on the hairline horizon?

Researchers from the University of Manchester have discovered a “biological mechanism” that causes hair to thin. The team is hopeful that their discovery could lead to a cure for baldness in the near future.

The British team uncovered the link while testing a drug to see if it effectively boosted hair follicles in the human scalp.

Researchers found that overactivating a mechanism called integrated stress response (ISR) negatively impacted hair growth. This response indicates that cells can pause regular activity when they experience stressful conditions, becoming partially dormant to mitigate the strain.

For example, follicle cells become stressed as they age, slowing down growth. An overactivated IRS, however, can cause cell death, stopping rather than slowing hair growth.

Thus, finding a way to stop the overactivation of the ISR may provide a path to preventing hair loss.

Dr.Talveen Purba, senior author of the study, said, “We’re incredibly hopeful as we believe the activation of this pathway could play an important biological role in restricting hair growth in people with hair loss conditions, meaning that targeting it could lead to new treatments.”

Purba and the Manchester team are studying ISR activity in people with hair loss to better understand its influence on follicles.

Derek Pye, chief technician of the research group and co-author of the study, reported, “When we look at hair follicles under the microscope, it’s striking how consistent the response is between hair follicles from different people.”

The ultimate aim is to develop a drug that can prevent hair loss.

According to Purba, while no drugs known to influence ISR are currently available, there are some under investigation in other contexts.

In 2022, a team of Japanese researchers successfully grew mature hair follicles in a lab, another potential advancement in the battle against hair loss.

By the time they reach middle age, roughly 85% of men are affected by hair loss. Comparatively, by age 70, half of the women suffer from it. Despite these staggering rates, few treatment options are available.

The topical treatment minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine, is commonly used to treat hair loss. Propecia, a prescription hair loss medication, also known by the generic name finasteride, has made headlines (pun intended) for its brutal side effects, which include depression, erectile dysfunction, a loss of sex drive, and suicidal ideation.

Others who suffer from hair loss opt for laser treatments or transplant surgery. Anti-aging guru Bryan Johnson swears by a triple-pronged approach of red-light therapy, micro-needling and topical treatments.