Gray Hair Might Signal Natural Cancer Defense, Study Finds

Scientists have discovered that DNA damage in melanocyte stem cells can lead to hair graying through senescence, but in the presence of carcinogens, these cells avoid this process and expand, increasing cancer risk. The study links the biological pathways of aging, hair color change, and cancer development, highlighting how stem cell stress responses can diverge into either protective exhaustion or dangerous expansion, with implications for understanding melanoma and aging.