Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Obama, Palin, and Marie-Antoinette

October 2009 in “ The FASEB Journal ”

Gerald Weissmann

hair graying hair loss hydrogen peroxide buildup catalase activity psychosocial stress Marie Antoinette Syndrome

Studysummary This article reviews the historical and scientific perspectives on the phenomenon of stress-induced changes in hair color and reports no evidence supporting the idea that holding or resigning from political office accelerates human aging or hair graying.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The document examines the impact of stress on hair color and hair loss in political figures, focusing on President Obama, Sarah Palin, and Marie Antoinette. It notes Obama's hair graying 44 days into his presidency and Palin's hair thinning after her resignation, but it refutes the possibility of hair turning white overnight as in the myth of Marie Antoinette Syndrome. The article explains hair graying as a result of hydrogen peroxide buildup due to reduced catalase activity with age. It concludes that taking or leaving high office does not significantly accelerate aging, and the relationship between psychosocial stress and hair loss lacks strong evidence.

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