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gray hair

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·October 7, 2024·6 min read

Does Stress Lead to Premature Hair Graying?

Hair turns grey due to a decrease in melanin production in hair follicles, a process influenced by both genetics and environmental factors like stress. Contrary to myths, plucking a grey hair won’t make more grow back, and hair can’t turn grey overnight.

This shows a gray hair sample from a hairdresser's sample book

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 22, 2021·6 min read

It’s True: Stress Does Turn Hair Gray (and It’s Reversible)

Study confirms stress can accelerate premature graying of hair, but there is hope. Reducing stress helps to restore some of your natural color.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·January 22, 2020·5 min read

How stress causes gray hair

Study reveals a link between the nervous system and stem cells that regenerate pigment in hair follicles. When stressed, norepinephrine from the sympathetic nervous system causes melanocyte stem cells to activate excessively. The stem cells all convert into pigment-producing cells, prematurely depleting the reservoir. The findings explain the cellular and molecular links between stress and premature hair graying.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 4, 2018·3 min read

Gray Hair Linked to Immune System and Viral Infection

Researchers have identified a link between the immune system, viral infection and premature hair graying. The study reports mice who went prematurely gray produced unusually high amounts of MITF, a protein that is responsible for releasing interferons, which help to fight viral infections. This suggests genes responsible for controlling pigmentation also work to control the immune system.

Featured Genetics Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 8, 2017·4 min read

Skin Cells at the Root of Gray Hair and Balding

Researchers implicate KROXO20, a gene associated with neuron development, and SCF in hair graying and balding. They believe the findings could answer additional questions about human aging.