My Hair Seems to Have Thinned in My Late 30s

I am 40 years old and noticed a drastic change in my hair texture and amount over the last two years. I have been about a NW2 with a strong frontal tuft that basically was quite curly and full. The top of my head was curly as well with a slight recession on the temples which seemed age appropriate. In the last two years that has changed in terms of width and density. It seems like looking back on pictures that my hair was darker and curlier only 1.5 to 2 years ago. Is this a common occurrence for MPB? I assumed it slowed down as we age but my case is reversed.

I have been stressed about it as well. The loss has been rather quick within the last two years at my age it seems that I had dodged the bullet for advanced NW patterns but looking at things now and I am certainly not as convinced. Should I start propecia and rogaine to restore the hairs that seem to have disappeared within a year? Family history is NW4-5 on dads side and moms side but later in life..what gives? thanks

Certainly, stressing out about losing hair could lead to further loss. Genetic balding, as we know it, develops in patterns. What you are describing doesn’t sound like patterned balding. I would want to do some testing on you to include bulk measurements of your scalp at different locations and miniaturization analysis to look for problems like diffuse unpatterned alopecia (DUPA), and even a pull test for telogen effluvium, etc. With a good examination and these tests in hand, I might venture a guess as to what is happening to you.