Coloring hair is a common practice among women and men. It is a way to look good, hide grey hair, and feel confident. But recently, a study has found that coloring hair may indicate a risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects a person’s movement. It is caused by the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include tremors, slowed movement, rigidity, and balance problems.
What is the link between hair coloring and Parkinson’s disease?
A study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health has found a link between hair coloring and Parkinson’s disease.
The study followed more than 43,000 men and women for over a decade and found that people who regularly color their hair are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than those who don’t color their hair.
What are the possible reasons for this link?
There are several possible reasons for the link between hair coloring and Parkinson’s disease. One of the reasons is the exposure to chemicals in hair dyes.
Most hair dyes contain chemicals like para-phenylenediamine (PPD), which has been linked to Parkinson’s disease. The chemical structure of PPD is similar to that of a neurotoxin called MPTP, which is known to cause Parkinson’s disease in humans.
Another reason is the genetics. People who color their hair may have a genetic predisposition to develop Parkinson’s disease.
The genes that are involved in hair coloring may also be linked to the genes that are involved in Parkinson’s disease.
What should people do?
People who regularly color their hair should be aware of the potential risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. They should consider using natural hair dyes instead of chemical hair dyes.
Natural hair dyes are made from ingredients like henna, chamomile, and coffee, which are safe and have no side effects.
People should also take steps to reduce their exposure to other chemicals that may increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease. These include pesticides, solvents, and heavy metals like lead and mercury.
They should also adopt a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a healthy diet, and stress management.
Conclusion
The link between hair coloring and Parkinson’s disease is still being researched, but it is clear that there is a potential risk.
People who regularly color their hair should be aware of this risk and take steps to reduce their exposure to chemicals that may increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease. They should also consider using natural hair dyes instead of chemical hair dyes.