How Stress Causes Gray Hair: Harvard Scientists Solve a Biological Puzzle

By HARVARD UNIVERSITY JANUARY 23, 2020



Elaborate sympathetic innervation (magenta) around melanocyte stem cells (yellow). Acute stress induces hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system to release large amount of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. Norepinephrine drives rapid depletion of melanocyte stem cells and hair greying. Credit: Hsu Laboratory, Harvard University

Harvard Scientists Uncover Link Between the Nervous System and Stem Cells That Regenerate Pigment

When Marie Antoinette was captured during the French Revolution, her hair reportedly turned white overnight. In more recent history, John McCain experienced severe injuries as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War — and lost color in his hair.

For a long time, anecdotes have connected stressful experiences with the phenomenon of hair graying.

Now, for the first time, HSCI scientists have discovered exactly how the process plays out: stress activates nerves that are part of the fight-or-flight response, which in turn cause permanent damage to pigment-regenerating stem cells in hair follicles.

The study, published in Nature on January 22, 2020, advances scientists’ knowledge of how stress can impact the body.

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