A study published in 2022 found a tenuous but plausible link between nose picking and an increased risk of developing dementia.
When nose picking causes damage to internal tissues, important species of bacteria have a clearer route to the brain, and the brain responds to their presence in a manner similar to symptomatic signs. alzheimer’s disease disease.
There are a number of caveats here, not the least of which is that the supporting research so far has been done in mice rather than humans, but this discovery definitely deserves further study and could improve our understanding of how the mysterious Alzheimer’s disease develops.
Related: Simple new compound reverses Alzheimer’s symptoms in rats
A research team led by scientists from Australia’s Griffith University Chlamydia pneumoniaeIt can infect and cause infection in humans. pneumonia.
Chlamydia pneumoniae have was also discovered A large part of the human brain is affected by late-onset dementia.
The video below contains a summary of the research findings.
In mice, it was demonstrated that bacteria can travel up the olfactory nerve (which connects the nasal cavity to the brain).
Additionally, damage to the nasal epithelium (the thin tissue along the roof of the nasal cavity) worsened the nerve infection.
This caused the mice’s brains to have more deposits of amyloid beta protein, a protein released in response to infection.
Plaques (or clumps) of this protein are also found in significant concentrations in: person with alzheimer’s disease.
“We showed it for the first time Chlamydia pneumoniae It can reach the brain directly through the nose and cause conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. ” Neuroscientist James St. John said: The study was published in October 2022 and awarded by Griffith University, Australia.
“We’ve seen this happen in mouse models, but the evidence could be frightening for humans as well.”
Scientists were surprised by the speed. Chlamydia pneumoniae It colonizes the central nervous system of mice and infection occurs within 24 to 72 hours. Bacteria and virus Think of your nose as a shortcut to your brain.
It is unclear whether the effect is the same in humans, but Amyloid beta plaques are the cause of Alzheimer’s diseaseStill, it is important to track promising leads in this battle to understand this common neurodegenerative disease.
“We need to carry out this study in humans to see if the same pathway works in the same way.” saint john said.
“This is research that has been proposed by many people, but has not yet been completed. What we do know is that this same bacteria exists in humans, but we don’t understand how it gets there.”
Related: Nasal drops may slow Alzheimer’s disease, study in mice suggests
Nose picking is not at all uncommon. In fact, it is possible 9 out of 10 people Please do…not to mention many other species (Some people are a little more skilled (than others).
The benefits are not clear, but studies like this one should make you pause for a moment before making a choice.
Future studies of the same process in humans are planned, but until then, St. John and colleagues suggest that picking your nose or pulling out nasal hair is “not a good idea” because it can damage the protective nasal tissues.
“You don’t want to damage the inside of your nose, so if you pick or pick it, it might hurt.” warned St. John.
“Damaging the lining of the nose can increase the number of bacteria that can invade the brain.”
One of the open questions the research team is trying to answer is whether increased deposition of amyloid beta protein is a natural, healthy immune response that can be reversed when fighting off an infection.
A 2024 review further advances the hypothesis Nose picking may play a role in increasing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and we now know more about how the process unfolds.
Related: The cause of Alzheimer’s disease may come from inside the mouth
Alzheimer’s disease is a very complex disease, as evidenced by: A huge amount of research Besides, and many different angles Scientists are working to understand it, and each study brings them a little closer to finding a way to stop it.
“Once you’re over 65, the risk factors rise sharply, but we’re also looking at other causes, because it’s not just age but also environmental exposures.” saint john said.
“And we think bacteria and viruses are important.”
This research scientific report.
A previous version of this article was published in November 2022.
