A recent study proposes that Lisa del Giocondo, the subject of Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, may have suffered from alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition causing hair loss. Dr. Luigi Laino identified features in the painting, such as the absence of eyebrows and an unusual hairline, as indicators of this condition. The study connects her potential health issues to the stressors she faced during her life, including living through plague and political unrest. Other medical conditions have also been suggested in past research.
Key facts
- Dr. Luigi Laino suggests Lisa del Giocondo had alopecia areata.
- Alopecia areata affects nearly 7 million people in the U.S.
- The study identified four features in the painting indicating hair loss.
- Del Giocondo lived through significant life stressors.
- Other proposed conditions include post-pregnancy hypothyroidism.
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