What science says about your gray hair, and how it can change back (TRH+)

Sooner or later, we all contend with graying hair. But what causes strands of hair to lose pigment and, in some cases, regain it? Last week, Manoush Zomorodi spoke with Martin Picard, a mitochondrial psychobiologist who studies how our cells produce and use energy. According to Picard, our mitochondria play a surprising role in health and aging, including hair going gray. In this bonus episode, he explains why hair turns gray, what stress does to accelerate the process, and why some hairs regain their color. Martin Picard was featured in the recent episode, “How to feel alive in an exhausting world” (https://n.pr/4uoauLH).  To go deeper into the science, you can read Picard’s original 2021 article here: https://elifesciences.org/articles/67437  To get access to this and other bonus episodes, sign up for TED Radio Hour+. When you do, all your episodes also become sponsor-free. That’s because you are supporting our work and public radio. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ted