AGAcell® on "Antena 3":Is the end of baldness near? This Spanish stem cell treatment has worked successfully in mice

Is the end of baldness near? This Spanish stem cell treatment has worked successfully in mice

The solution to baldness may be closer than ever thanks to Spanish research. The Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid has tested a technique in mice that reverses alopecia.

A ray of hope for people who want to end alopecia. A study by the Dermatology Department of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid promises to be a solution for those who want to reverse or prevent baldness, according to an article published in the journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy.

The treatment combines stem cells derived from body fat with an energizing molecule called adenosine triphosphate, a combination that acts as a stimulus to regenerate hair. This is the key to the success of the research, led by Eduardo López Bran, head of Dermatology at the Madrid hospital.

The dermatologist assures that the end of baldness in men and women is now closer than ever, although it will not be achieved before five years, as clinical trials, human testing, and approval by regulatory agencies are still required.

Ending androgenic alopecia

The goal of López Bran’s team is to end androgenic alopecia, the most common type. This type of alopecia affects 80 percent of men and between 30 to 50 percent of people over 50, as well as around 40 percent of women.

In men, this alopecia typically begins in the frontal area of the scalp with the classic receding hairline, while in women, the most common feature is overall thinning on the top of the head.

The culprit is a molecule called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which binds to the scalp causing hair follicles to shrink, reducing their growth process, making hair finer and more vulnerable. The study focused on how to neutralize the effects of this molecule.

How the treatment works

The Hospital Clínico San Carlos has developed a method combining stem cells from adipose tissue (body fat) with adenosine triphosphate, which triggers hair regeneration. The treatment has been successfully tested in mice.

The researchers divided the animals into two groups: those induced to lose hair with DHT and those given a placebo. All mice in the first group fully regrew their hair, while only about 40 percent of the placebo group showed significant scalp repopulation, with the rest showing moderate regrowth.

The result provided a key conclusion for the continuation of the research: administering DHT allowed the study of androgenic alopecia in mice. To restore hair, the researchers administered low doses of stem cells and adenosine triphosphate to the male rodents. They observed that the formula fully repopulated hair in 50 percent of the mice, while the other 50 percent showed intense regrowth.

In female mice treated with medium doses of the formula, 50 percent had full repopulation, 40 percent had intense regrowth, and the remaining showed poor regrowth.