Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University found that pigment-producing stem cells in hair follicles respond differently to stress, leading to either gray hair or cancer. The study shows how these cells behave when exposed to DNA damage, such as chemicals mimicking UV exposure. In some cases, the cells multiply again instead of shutting down, accumulating more genetic damage and potentially becoming cancerous. However, when cells are encouraged to survive by altering their environment, they may stay healthy.
The findings suggest that hair graying is not a direct cause of cancer but rather a biological process to eliminate damaged cells. The study highlights how finely tuned the body’s cellular responses are, with small changes in balance potentially leading to life-threatening diseases like melanoma. This discovery could help scientists understand why some people develop melanoma without warning signs and how aging mechanisms may actually protect against cancer.
Source: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/gray-hair-cancer-defense-study