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ALS is often called Lou Gehrig's disease
after Lou Gehrig, a hall-of-fame baseball
player for the New York Yankees who
was diagnosed with ALS in the 1930s.
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Hair loss is a condition that can be attributed to a number of causes, which is why it is important to point this out first so that
treatment can be more effective.
However, there are cases where it’s the other
way around. The occurrence of hair loss can be a determining factor of some
health conditions. Researchers from Harvard University claimed that hair loss
can be attributed to ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or what is also known
as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
The study suggests that men who are balding at an early
stage in life are at a greater risk of developing the neurodegenerative
disorder.
What is ALS?
This is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous
system which causes it to degenerate overtime. It attacks the nerve cells in
the brain and spinal cord which eventually causes the motor neurons to die.
This results to the loss of ability to control muscle movements. As the condition
advances patients in later stages may experience total paralysis.
In the recent study
at Harvard’s School of Public Health (HSPH), there were more than 50,000
participants whose age range was between 46-81 years old. It was a longitudinal
study which means that it spanned over a long period of time.
Back in 1992, the men reported as to how much their hairline
was receding at age 45. There were 44% of the study participants who reported
no balding at 45, while 42% said they experienced moderate balding at the same
age. There was a meagre 14% of the population who reported extensive balding
also at 45.
Follow-up surveys were conducted after 16 years. Results
showed that 42 of these men developed ALS. The group was further specified with
11 who reported of extensive balding, 18 showed moderate balding, and 13
experienced no balding at all. This number showed a linear trend which then
lead to the conclusion that men who experienced the early onset of alopecia has
a higher risk of developing ALS.
Researchers also made it clear that there is no need to
panic. According to Elinor Fondell, who is the study author, a portion of those
men who developed ALS never went bald. Therefore the link may not really hold
true for everyone. With this Fondell claims that this established link still
needs further testing.
This is an important fact to consider if you are
experiencing hair loss because ALS is classified among the top five common
motor neuron diseases.
It might give you comfort to know that ALS does not have a
genetic component, however there is no precise cause that can be pointed out.
Researchers are hoping that the findings they find into early balding can help
them understand the disease based on the hormonal changes and even gene
location.
Yes, there are theories regarding the genetic component of
the disease and it points out to the variations in early balding. They say that
these variations are within close range to that gene which has a link with ALS.
Because of this, the two genes are seen to affect each other in the same way.
If you are concerned about this you can give yourself the
peace of mind by approaching your primary care physician for a thorough workup.
For some, hair loss can simply be due to genetics, stress, medications, or
other environmental factors. But in some occasions it can be caused by a more
serious case, therefore never hesitate to get yourself checked to rule out
other causes.
Source (s) and Citation (s)
