Gray hair may be indicative of an increased risk of heart disease in men, according to research presented Saturday at EuroPrevent 2017 in Malaga, Spain.
Cardiovascular disease and graying hair share similar genetic mechanisms like hindered DNA repair, hormone changes, oxidative stress and inflammation. To assess for a potential link between gray hair and heart disease, researchers conducted an observational study involving 545 men who were evaluated for suspected coronary artery disease with multi-slice computed tomography coronary angiography. The amount of grey hair patients had was rated on a five-point scale with five representing "pure white" hair.
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Analysis revealed that a hair-graying score of three or more was associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease.
"Atherosclerosis and hair graying occur through similar biological pathways and the incidence of both increases with age," said Irini Samuel, MD, a cardiologist at Cairo University, Egypt. "Our findings suggest that, irrespective of chronological age, hair graying indicates biological age and could be a warning sign of increased cardiovascular risk. Further research is needed, in coordination with dermatologists, to learn more about the causative genetic and possible avoidable environmental factors that determine hair whitening."
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