Hair Loss Press (July 14, 2010) — As reported in a paper in the July 1, 2010 issue of Nature  a Columbia University Medical Center team of investigators led by Dr. Angela Christiano has uncovered eight genes that are linked to alopecia areata, one of the most common forms of hair loss, Since many of the genes are also implicated in other autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes -- and treatments have already been developed that target these genes -- this discovery may soon lead to new treatments for the 5.3 million Americans suffering from hair loss caused by alopecia areata.