A CELL discovery could lead to a cure for baldness, say scientists. Research by Manchester University found a biological stress response can cause hair follicles to switch off and die, robbing people of their locks. The “integrated stress response” slows down non-essential bodily functions like hair growth during an infection or when the body isn’t getting the right nutrients.
A study of follicles in the lab found the process can go haywire and kill off scalp cells for good. Experts reckon stopping the response with a drug could halt balding in its tracks. Study author Dr Talveen Purba said: “This stress response may be implicated in a number of hair loss disorders, including pattern hair loss.
“We're incredibly hopeful that targeting it could lead to new treatments. “A complete reversal is unlikely and you probably wouldn’t have a lot of luck trying to regenerate hair in people who have completely lost it. “But if you catch it as they are actively losing it, it’s possible you could stop the process.
“Our key next steps are to confirm this is happening in people, then to work out if we can control it.” Millions of Brits have hair loss and pattern baldness affects about 85 per cent of men by the age of 50 and half of women by age 70. Many more lose their hair due to chemotherapy or illnesses like lupus or psoriasis.
The Manchester Hair Research Group made their discovery by accident while studying the effect of a drug on hair follicles. When the follicles.