Hair Loss Genetic Breakthrough Announced

A genetic remedy for male pattern baldness would be worth billions

Researchers from Bonn University and Düsseldorf University claim to have uncovered an extremely important hair loss gene which could have big implications on future treatment for male pattern baldness. The scientists looked at over half a million positions of the human genome and came across a gene variant which is present far more in bald men than in men with a full head of hair.

This is not the first time that hair loss genes have been identified and scientists are beginning to understand that the way forward to treat male pattern baldness is to understand the genetic process behind it. The same group of scientists back in 2005 had previously located other hair loss genes which men inherited from their mothers, and this new research has identified a gene which is probably responsible for the similar cranial hair loss patterns found in fathers and sons.

This research is exciting and important because it opens up many different avenues of researched to investigate a complete remedy for men suffering from male pattern baldness. The fact that male pattern hair loss is genetic is now undisputed and it is important for men to realise that unless they deal with their problem at the genetic level they are unlikely to have much success.

In fact male pattern baldness is caused by the build up of Dihydrotestosterone in the scalp and if you have the “wrong” genes there is very little you can do. The most effective treatment for male pattern baldness is the hair loss drug Propecia which does in fact prevent the build up of Dihydrotestosterone but it does not work for all men.

A genetic remedy for male pattern baldness would be worth billions of pounds to a pharmaceutical company and the market would be huge with millions of customers signing up immediately. This fascinating research is being funded by the pharmaceutical organisation Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the positive results mean that the genetic research will continue until all hair loss genes have been conclusively identified.