Khaberni - Hair follicle aging begins earlier than you might think, with molecular changes associated with inflammation appearing in people's thirties and forties, years before the onset of thinning or gray hair, according to a recent study.
Hair thinning and the emergence of the first annoying gray strands typically appear in middle age, but the cellular foundation starts much earlier, as reported by a Chinese research team including researchers from the Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, the Chinese Academy of Sciences University, the Beijing Institute of Genetics, and the Shanghai Hospital of Dermatology.
According to "Study Finds," a protein complex called AP-1 shows increased activity in hair follicles of middle-aged individuals, and may coordinate a network of genes affecting the function of stem cells.
Cell Communication
Researchers noted that cell communication within the scalp weakens with age, particularly the signals between supportive cells and cells that grow hair, which may lengthen the rest periods between growth cycles.
The research identified molecular patterns that could become targets for future treatments, although no treatments were tested in this study.
In the study, hair follicle cells of individuals ranging from their mid-thirties to early forties already exhibited molecular signatures of stress, immune system activation, and a decline in regenerative capacity, even when the hair appears relatively healthy.
The research identified patterns of gene expression associated with inflammation that affects several types of cells in the hair follicles.
The genes involved in stress responses, immune system activation, and DNA damage were higher in samples from middle-aged individuals, while genes controlling stem cell renewal were inhibited.
This creates conditions that may make it difficult for the hair follicle stem cells to function normally.
