Illness, Stress Result To Grey Hair – Study

A new research has revealed that illness or stress may also be responsible for grey hair.

The development was revealed in a study led by Melissa Harris, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham as she said grey hair is most time not a sign of old age.

The research carried out on mice and published in PLOS Biology shows that when the body is under attack our cells produce molecular signals called interferon.

The chemical signal is said to make cells machinery undergo a change that prevents viruses and increase defences.

Furthermore, they found that hair greying is caused if Melanogenesis Associated Transcription Factor (MITF) cannot control the response of interferon in the melanocyte cells.

William Pavan, study co-author and chief of the Genetic Disease Research Branch at National Human Genome Research Institute under National Institute of Health said “This new discovery suggests that genes that control pigment in hair and skin also work to control the innate immune system.

“These results may enhance our understanding of hair greying. More importantly, discovering this connection will help us understand pigmentation diseases with innate immune system involvement like vitiligo.”