Family History and Risk of Hair Loss

The 2004 study with a sample size of 254 Caucasian men aged 18 to 49 found that family history is a significant factor in the risk of developing androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in men. Men whose fathers had hair loss were 2.5 times more likely to suffer from hair loss themselves, and this association persisted after adjusting for age. The risk was even higher for men with hair loss in both parents, with odds ratios of 7.9 and 14.7. The study also highlighted the importance of the mother's father's hair loss status in assessing risk. While age was a risk factor for all men, family history was particularly influential between ages 25 and 45. The study was geographically limited to Dayton, Ohio, and used self-reported data for parental hair loss.