BUSM
Research
Hair Aging Differs by Race, Ethnicity
W
hile aging is an unavoidable biological process with many influencing factors that results in visible changes to the hair, there is limited literature examining the characteristics of hair aging across the races. A study in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology now describes the unique characteristics of hair aging among different ethnicities that the authors hope will aid in a culturally sensitive approach when making recommendations to prevent hair damage during one’s lifetime. Among the findings: hair-graying onset varies with race, with the average age for Caucasians being mid-30s, for Asians being late 30s, and for African Americans being mid-40s. Caucasians and Asians typically experience damage to the distal hair shaft, while African Americans see damage occurring closer to the hair root. Postmenopausal changes include decreased anagen (active or growing) hairs in the frontal scalp, lower growth rates, and smaller hair diameters.
“Despite a similar chemical composition, the structural properties of hair vary between different ethnicities and, consequently, the aging of hair differs as well. As the population ages and becomes more diverse, it is of greater necessity to understand the hairaging process in different types of hair,” says corresponding author Neelam Vashi, MD, associate professor of dermatology.
According to the researchers, the role of hair for both protection and cosmetic improvement makes it incredibly important to physical and mental well-being. “A thorough understanding of the unique characteristics of hair aging among different races and ethnicities is essential for the appropriate management of mature patients,” adds Vashi. n
Loneliness is a subjective feeling resulting from a perceived discrepancy between desired and actual social relationships. Although loneliness does not itself have the
status of a clinical disease, it is associated with a range of negative health outcomes, including sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, and stroke. Still, feeling lonely may happen to anyone at some point in life, especially under extreme and unresolved circumstances such as the COVID-19 lockdowns. Yet, people differ in how long—or how “persistent”—they feel lonely for. Thus, it may be that people who recover from loneliness will experience different long-term consequences for their health than people who are lonely for many years. In an effort to shed light on the relationship between these different forms of loneliness (transient and persistent loneliness) and the incidence of AD, researchers from BUSM examined data involving cognitively
Midlife Loneliness a Risk Factor for Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease
P
ersistent loneliness during midlife (ages 45–64) appears to make people more likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) later in life. However, people who recover from loneliness appear to be less likely to suffer from dementia, compared with people who have never felt lonely. 30
Boston University School of Medicine
