Why does hair turn gray as we age?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Pigment cells stop working
Lack of vitamins in diet — Wrong. While severe malnutrition can affect hair health, gray hair is primarily caused by the natural aging process, not diet.
Pigment cells stop working ✓ — Correct! Hair color comes from melanin produced by cells called melanocytes in hair follicles. As we age, these cells gradually stop producing pigment and eventually die. Without melanin, new hair grows in gray or white.
Stress causes color loss — Wrong. Severe stress can accelerate graying, but the primary cause is age-related decline in melanocyte function, not stress alone.
More Human Biology questions
- In mice, why can calorie restriction slow some signs of aging while a chronic disease like diabetes speeds up others?
- Why do different tissues in the body age at different rates?
- After a long flight, why is a brief daytime nap safer than sleeping for hours?
- Why can late-afternoon coffee at your destination sabotage first-night jet lag?
- Why can jet lag upset your stomach even after a decent sleep on the plane?
- For a 36-hour overseas trip, why might staying on home sleep hours beat forcing local time?