Chinese researchers have found that hair may contain signs of Parkinson’s disease. They analyzed hair samples from 60 diagnosed patients and compared them with hair from healthy individuals of the same age. The results were published in the journal iScience.

In the hair of Parkinson’s patients, researchers detected lower levels of iron and copper, along with elevated concentrations of manganese and arsenic. The most consistent difference was the reduction in iron levels. Scientists believe this marker could be used for diagnosis, as hair reflects long-term changes in the body, unlike blood or saliva.

Additional experiments in mice showed that reduced hair iron was associated with impaired gut function. Animals exhibiting Parkinson’s-like symptoms had weakened intestinal barrier function and altered activity of genes responsible for iron absorption. This supports the hypothesis of a close connection between the gut and the brain in neurodegenerative diseases.

The researchers emphasize that the study is preliminary and needs confirmation in larger populations. However, in the future, analyzing a single hair strand could potentially allow for early detection of Parkinson’s disease.