Baldness is probably the one thing that causes men more anxiety than anything else in their life. Now, it seems that a cure for baldness is on the anvil.
Baldness is probably the one thing that causes men more anxiety than anything else in their life. Now, it seems that a cure for baldness is on the anvil after scientists identified a gene lined to hair loss.
An international team, led by the National Institute of Genetics in Tokyo, has pinpointed Sox21 gene which plays a key function in ensuring hair retention. The gene has in the past been shown to be linked to the formation of nerve cells.
The scientists made the finding during experiments on mice which, like humans, carry the gene.
In their study, the team blocked the activity of the gene in mice and found that the rodents started losing hair on their heads 15 days after birth and became completely naked a week later.
"It is entirely possible that the gene is also a cause of thinning hair among humans," Prof Yumiko Saga, who led the team, was quoted by 'The Daily Telegraph' as saying.
According to the scientists, hairs have a long growing phase -- two years or more -- followed by short resting phase of two or three months.
But as some men age, this pattern gradually reverses until eventually the resting period is so long that there is no new hair coming through to replace the 100 to 150 hairs people lose daily through natural shedding.
And, the scientists believe Sox21 governs this cycle. "Normally, new hair appears right after old hair falls out. But, the hair of these mice fell out very early, making their bald periods longer," Professor Saga said.
The findings are published in the 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' journal.
Experts have welcomed the research.
Dr Bessam Farjo, medical director of the Institute of Trichologists, said the study added to the growing knowledge of hair loss and could help identify and target young men who will lose their hair.
"It is very interesting. It should help in the current research into finding a cure for hair loss. It will also help us accurately target men likely to lose their hair so we can treat them before it happens," he said.
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