You may notice that your reflexes just aren't as swift as they once were; someone else may wonder what happened to that boundless energy of her twenties. When I went back for round two of college, the first time I pulled an all-nighter was quite a sobering experience. I thought about how easy it was to skip a night's sleep in my youth versus the ordeal it has become, and I am not even that old.

At least I have escaped one of the most obvious external signs of pending decrepitude: the balding head. I am keeping my fingers crossed though, because while baldness is not particularly common in my family, the factors that cause it are numerous and I still have more than enough time to lose a lot of hair.

Others are not so fortunate. Most people, especially men, will experience some degree of hair loss as they age; for some it can even start before they get out of their teens. As I said, many different factors influence the onset and degree of baldness, but in most cases it is due to genetic factors. The most common form is Androgenic Alopecia, more commonly known as Male Pattern Baldness. It is often said that one inherits a balding pate from the maternal side, and while this is not always the case it certainly has its basis in proven facts. A genetic predisposition to premature baldness has been largely linked to the X chromosome, but both parents contribute and other genes not linked to sex are involved.

There are, of course, other causes of baldness. Traction Alopecia occurs when someone's hair is subjected to too much pulling or tension, as with cornrows or ponytails. Both hyper- and hypo- thyroid conditions can cause hair loss on the head, and so can excessive stress. Dietary and lifestyle factors can also contribute: hormone levels affect hair loss, and so does iron deficiency. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments also commonly cause heavy hair loss.

Among men, pattern baldness usually begins with the hairline receding along the temples and forehead. Hair all over the scalp often decreases in density as well, sometimes to the point of a noticeable bald spot on the crown or even full hair loss as the case advances. Pattern baldness in women is less common and usually less severe. Women are more likely to experience generalized thinning rather than a full scale receding of the hairline itself.

This is not to say that baldness is less worrisome to females. Quite the opposite is true, actually. You see, balding is one of the few symptoms of aging that doesn't really affect the purely physical processes of the body. Aside from the potential for a sunburned scalp, the effects of balding are almost exclusively psychological, and in general these effects have a deeper impact on a female.

For a male, balding might be expected. In some cases it is even embraced or possibly seen as a convenience. Personally, the main reason I keep my hair short is so I don't have to worry about brushing it often. If I were bald I wouldn't have to bother with shampoo at all, although I might wear a hat more often. Modern society is very accepting of bare-headed men, but this is hardly the case for baldness in women.

Fortunately, modern science provides numerous treatments for baldness. As with most areas of medicine, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is much easier to preserve hair before it falls out than it is to regrow it. There are a few pharmaceuticals which are effective against hair loss; they are some of the most popularly prescribed drugs on the market. The specific results seen with such drugs varies widely, but they usually work at least to some extent.

Other treatments are available as well, including surgical procedures, things which stimulate hair growth, and artificial replacements. Strand by strand treatments replaces the hair you lost in a pattern identical to the growth of natural hair. It is almost indistinguishable from natural hair; with wigs, all but the most prohibitively expensive are easily seen as fake. For someone who is only experiencing damaged hair or mild to moderate thinning, weaves and extensions are a user-friendly way to add length and volume.

Laser therapies are another type of baldness treatment which have been increasing in popularity and effectiveness in recent years. Laser therapy can stimulate the follicles, promoting hair growth and slowing or stopping its loss. More advanced laser therapy is also available which incorporates cutting-edge scalp and follicle treatment techniques and approved drugs along with the laser regimen. Many users of this procedure have seen swift and significant improvement.