One Pill & Goodbye Grey?

Researchers at University College London have found out how to switch grey hair off. Or turn a blonde into a brunette, grow a thick beard and curl straight hair. They also seem to know what causes monobrows. It’s all in the genes. Can the development of drugs to switch genes on and off be far behind?

Professor Andres Ruiz-Linares, study lead, and his team looked at DNA samples from over 6,600 volunteers in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru. The gene IRF4, long known to have something to do with the colour of our hair, was identified as the culprit behind grey hair.

It seems that in the foreseeable future we will be able to look at ourselves in the mirror and change pretty much anything we don’t like with drugs. Beware the consequences of our vanity! While there may not be a downside to losing that monobrow, dyed black hair on an older person enhances wrinkles in skin that is losing elasticity and colour by providing increased contrast so would a drug provide permanent change or is there another drug that can lighten it up as we age? And by the way, what is the consequence of having these drugs in our bodies?

It remains to be seen how far science will take us in our quest to satisfy the desire to look younger but with the current trend in the younger generation being to intentionally colour hair grey, those of us who are aging may find others looking at us with new appreciation.