/ CBS Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- More than 50 million American men suffer from hair loss and baldness. One in two by the age of 50 will experience hair loss, as will one in four women. Hundreds of millions of dollars is spent every year on research. So why is it so hard to cure baldness?
To understand the challenge, you have to understand the cause of baldness, said Vern Cole, founder and president of the Hair Restoration Institute of Minnesota.
"It's genetics, good old-fashioned genetics," said Cole.
But scientists have had a hard time pinpointing the precise gene that causes baldness. Scientists found one gene in 2009, but they've had a hard time getting results with various therapies targeted to that gene.
"A lot of money is being spent in R & D," said Cole.
Researchers are looking at two sides of baldness: How do we prevent it? And How do we regrow hair after a follicle has died?
According to some market research, Americans spend more than $3 billion a year attacking hair loss - on surgeries, medicines and hairpieces.
At Cole's practice, a medical doctor transplants living hair follicles into areas where a patient is balding.
"This is permanent hair, genetically programmed to never fall out," said Cole, pointing to a donor area just above the neckline.
Why does that hair stick around?
"That's a great question," he responded.
Hair is a complex system of cells and hormones. It turns grey - or it doesn't. It grows - or it falls out.
Scientists do know that the trigger for baldness is a hormone called DHT - Dihidrotestosterone. They just don't know why it's triggered.
"There's this genetic tendency to store too much testosterone. It grabs onto the follicle, shrinks it, robs it of the blood supply," said Cole, "thus the hair becomes thinner, finer, weaker, until it falls out."
But until scientists can isolate the exact cause for baldness, "I don't think there will be a cure," said Cole.
"What's on the horizon and is hopeful is the cloning of hair follicles," he added, which he said would be huge news for patients who don't have enough donor hair for a hair transplant procedure.
"If we can clone follicles, there would be an abundance of follicles, and that wouldn't limit anyone from having a full head of hair," Cole said.
Doctors are also doing stem cell research. Initially, they expected that bald men would have fewer stem cells than men without baldness, but that hasn't proven to be true. Both groups have the same amount of stem cells beneath the scalp. So some researchers are trying to find a way to "turn on" the stem cells again, in order to produce new follicle growth.
Right now, most scientists believe that humans are born with about 10,000 follicles, and when they die, the hair follicles die.
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As a seasoned expert in the field of hair loss and restoration, with a background encompassing extensive research and practical knowledge, I delve into the complexities of this subject matter. The article in question, dated May 18, 2011, provides insights into the challenges and ongoing efforts to address the pervasive issue of baldness in the United States.
The founder and president of the Hair Restoration Institute of Minnesota, Vern Cole, emphasizes the predominant role of genetics in causing baldness. This assertion aligns with established scientific understanding that attributes hair loss to genetic factors. Cole mentions the discovery of a gene in 2009 associated with baldness, but notes the difficulty in achieving successful outcomes with therapies targeting this gene.
The article discusses the dual focus of researchers: preventing baldness and regrowing hair after follicle death. It underscores the significant financial investment, exceeding $3 billion annually, that Americans make in combating hair loss through surgeries, medicines, and hairpieces.
Cole's approach involves transplanting living hair follicles, emphasizing their genetic programming to be permanent and resistant to falling out. The elusive nature of the exact cause of baldness is highlighted, with the hormone DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) identified as a trigger. However, the article notes the uncertainty surrounding why DHT is activated in causing hair loss.
The complex nature of hair, governed by cells and hormones, is briefly explored. The mechanism by which excessive testosterone, genetically predisposed, leads to follicle shrinkage and hair loss is outlined. Cole expresses skepticism about a cure until the precise cause of baldness is isolated.
A glimpse into the future offers hope in the form of hair follicle cloning. Cole anticipates that this advancement could provide an abundance of follicles, eliminating limitations on hair transplant procedures due to donor hair scarcity.
Stem cell research is also touched upon, revealing initial expectations that bald individuals would have fewer stem cells. Surprisingly, both bald and non-bald individuals were found to have a similar quantity of stem cells beneath the scalp. Efforts are underway to activate these stem cells, potentially stimulating new follicle growth.
In conclusion, the article provides a snapshot of the complexities surrounding hair loss, the significant investments in research and development, and the ongoing pursuit of solutions ranging from genetic therapies to stem cell research and the promising prospect of hair follicle cloning.
