Fate of Miniaturized Hairs?

Do miniaturized hairs from AGA always end up dying of apoptosis? In other words, when the  hairs from DHT susceptible follicles miniaturize, is it guaranteed that they will always end up falling out permanently and those follicles end up dying and not growing any new hair? Or can hair miniaturize and remain that way indefinitely without eventually permanently falling out and dying?  I ask because most bald men that I see, even those who are older and whose hair loss has been stabilized or remained the same for decades, they usually still seem to maintain some hair in their bald