Could Gray Hair Be the Body's Response to Fighting Cancer?
Quelle: VIDEOELEPHANT (Glomex)
A recent study has found that the body's defense mechanisms against cancer may also be reflected in the hair. According to a study published in "Nature Cell Biology," gray hair could be a sign that the body is working to protect itself from the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma. Scientists made this surprising discovery when studying melanocyte stem cells in rodents. These cells, located in the hair follicle, are responsible for hair pigmentation and are often involved in the development of melanomas. The authors of the study discovered that melanocyte stem cells respond to stress in two ways. Scientists found that the mice's bodies forced the damaged cells to mature, causing them to be expelled, leading to gray hair. By bypassing the protective graying reaction, damaged cells continue to divide, potentially promoting tumor formation. The study's lead author, Yasuaki Mohri, said, "As gray hair appears, the risk of melanoma decreases simultaneously." Although gray hair does not necessarily protect against the later development of melanoma, it could be an indication that your body has already tried to fend off the disease. Mohri added that the study shows that "the depletion of melanocyte stem cells functions as a protective mechanism against melanomas."