Hair growth follows an inversely proportional relationship with age, as growing age often results in slow hair growth and even hair loss. Baldness is a major cause of concern for middle-aged women and men who try every possible way, regardless of the cost, to preserve hair on their heads.
A Northwestern University research has found a potential breakthrough in baldness and hair growth. The research has discovered a method to revive the existing hair follicles in older people for better hair growth.
How does the new baldness cure work?
The method involves boosting the production of micro-RNA particles,miR-205, to stimulate the already existing hair follicles on the scalp. The tiny RNA particle mainly relaxes the hardness of the cells, making them soft and favourable for hair growth. The method was successful in mice, as of now, and can make a big difference if went successful in humans.
After the manipulation of the stem cells to boost miR-205 production, the result was hair growth in mice both young and old.
“They started to grow hair in 10 days,” Rui Yi, Ph.D., a professor of pathology and dermatology at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Illinois and a senior author of the study, told SciTechDaily.
The professor informed me that these are not the new stem cells being generated, but the process involves the stimulation of existent stem cells to grow hair.
What’s next?
The next step in the research will be to find out if the result can be attained by the topical application of miR-205 to stimulate hair growth first in mice. If the experiment will get successful in humans, then the method will be tested on humans.
“If successful, we will design experiments to test whether this microRNA can promote hair growth potentially in humans,” said scientists.
How was the study conducted?
The study was performed in genetically engineered mouse models. The study used advanced microscopy tools like atomic force microscopy to measure the stiffness. Along with this, two-photo microscopy was also used to monitor cell behaviours in live animals.
Challenges ahead
The main challenge to transform the experiment into an actual cure for baldness in humans is to find its success in humans. Mouse model does not necessarily give similar results to that of human observations, Dr. Ken Williams Jr., a surgeon and founder of Orange County Hair Restoration in Irvine, California, told Medical News Today.
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Updated: 17 Jun 2023, 10:18 AM IST