CHEMICALS in hair dye could raise the risk of dementia, research suggests.
A study of millions of death records has revealed that certain jobs increase the chances of developing brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
And it appears hairdressers face a higher than normal risk of suffering early- onset dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and motor neurone disease.
The researchers say the findings may be explained by hairdressers’ daily exposure to powerful chemicals in dyes and other products in salons.
Such chemicals have previously been known to trigger allergies, skin problems, headaches and coughing.
Other studies have suggested they might be linked to cancer with rates of bladder tumours in women who dye their hair twice that of those who keep their natural colour. It is thought chemicals may build up in the bladder and so damage cells.
One Swedish study found that women who use hair dye for 20 years could be doubling their risk of developing arthritis.
Another report suggested the dye could cause birth defects in unborn children when absorbed through a pregnant mother’s scalp and into her bloodstream.
The latest research, by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Ohio, was based on more than 2.6million American death certificates issued between 1992 and 1998.
Overall, 4 per cent of deaths were found to have been caused by degenerative brain diseases.
The study, published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, found there were some distinctive patterns linked to jobs.
Hairdressers were found to have a higher risk of early-onset dementia, Alzheimer’s and motor neurone disease, but not Parkinson’s.
Their risk was between 23 and 38 per cent higher than the general population.
Farmers and welders, who are also exposed to powerful chemicals- were found to have a higher risk of all four brain conditions.
Members of the teaching, clergy and banking professions were all more likely than normal to develop conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Dentists and the clergy were particularly likely to get earlyonset dementia and vets faced a higher than normal risk of getting motor neurone disease.
The researchers suggested that may be because those in more ‘ professional jobs’ had healthier lives and ate better diets.
As a result, this may mean they avoided dying early from heart disease and so succumbed to brain conditions in later life. The researchers called for more studies to confirm their findings, acknowledging that at best their study could show only general patterns.
Ray Seymour, general secretary of the National Hairdressers’ Federation, said he had never heard of a link between hair dyes and dementia. ‘Looking at the different occupations, it is hard to see any common chemicals in the workplace that would link hairdressers, welders, teachers and members of the clergy,’ he added.
‘It is such a wide diverse group that you would need to try to identify which factors were relevant and if lifestyle played a part.
It may be down to something totally unrelated to their job.’
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