IF YOU'VE ever suspected your hair has turned grey from stress, you may be right.
A new American study has found a link between the genes that control hair and skin colour of mice and the genes that control their immune systems.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers believe this link could explain why some people's hair goes grey after a serious illness or chronic stress.
Study co-author William Pavan said the discovery suggested genes that control pigment in hair and skin also work to control the innate immune system.
"These results may enhance our understanding of hair greying. More importantly, discovering this connection will help us understand pigmentation diseases with innate immune system involvement like vitiligo," he said.
The results of the study were published in PLOS Biology.