Genetic Prediction of Male Pattern Baldness

The study investigated the genetic basis of male pattern baldness using data from over 52,000 male participants in the UK Biobank, aged 40-69. Researchers identified more than 250 genetic loci associated with severe hair loss and developed a prediction algorithm using common genetic variants. This algorithm, tested on a discovery sample of 40,000 and a target sample of 12,000, showed an AUC of 0.78, with sensitivity of 0.74, specificity of 0.69, PPV of 59%, and NPV of 82%. The findings suggested potential for identifying individuals at high risk of hair loss and highlighted possible genetic targets for future interventions.