A new study has revealed a surprising reason why people develop gray hair.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered a surprising biological process: the loss of hair pigment could be a form of protection against DNA damage, writes “Libertatea”.
In their study, a team of Japanese scientists analyzed the behavior of stem cells in the hair follicles of mice. They observed that when DNA is damaged, these cells stop regenerating and transform into differentiated cells, leading to gray hair.
This response, called “senescence-associated differentiation,” stops damaged cells from dividing, reducing the risk of tumor formation.
Study co-author Professor Emi Nishimura explains:
“The same population of stem cells can have opposite fates – reduction or expansion – depending on the type of stress and signals from the microenvironment.”
According to the researchers, gray hair and the risk of developing melanoma are different consequences of the same cellular mechanism that is activated in response to genetic aggression.
The study also shows that exposing cells to certain carcinogens allows them to avoid this process. Although they retain the ability to regenerate, this increases the risk of uncontrolled proliferation, highlighting the delicate balance between hair aging and cancer prevention.
Thus the appearance of gray hair can indicate the correct functioning of the body’s protective mechanisms.
Although the study was conducted on animals, the results provide valuable insight into human biology.
“Our results do not indicate that gray hair prevents cancer, but rather reflects the body’s adaptive response to DNA damage,” explains Nishimura.
This discovery could contribute to the development of new methods in regenerative medicine and cancer prevention.
