Early Balding Linked to Lower Prostate Cancer Risk
A study of men aged 35–76 found that those who began balding by age 30 had a 29% lower risk of developing prostate cancer, and those who started balding even earlier had a 45% lower risk for both aggressive and less aggressive forms, possibly due to a shared genetic variant in the androgen receptor gene; however, prior research has yielded mixed results, with some studies linking baldness to higher risk of fatal prostate cancer. The exact mechanism remains unclear, and cancer screening guidance remains age-based (start at 40 for higher risk; general screening commonly begins at 55–69).