Relationship Between Androgenic Alopecia and White Matter Hyperintensities in Apparently Healthy Subjects
June 2019
in “
Brain Imaging and Behavior
”
TLDR Hair loss can indicate brain aging and potential small vessel disease, but more research is needed to understand the clinical impact.
In a study conducted from January 2017 to March 2018 involving 256 cases, a significant relationship was found between androgenic alopecia (AGA) and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), which are markers of brain aging. The frequency of abnormal WMHs was notably higher in patients with AGA compared to those without. Hypertension and AGA were identified as independent determinants of abnormal WMHs. The study suggested that AGA could provide predictive information of WMHs, potentially serving as a marker of cerebral small vessel disease related to arteriolosclerosis and vascular risk factors. However, the clinical impact of early detection of WMH via AGA evaluation requires further research.