Khaberni - In a scientific discovery that raises concern and may open a new door towards understanding one of the most enigmatic neurological illnesses, researchers are investigating a potential and “frightening” link between the habit of nose picking and Alzheimer's disease.
This scientific interest stems from a simple yet troubling fact that “dirty fingers could transfer bacteria inside the nose, causing infections and damage to its lining and sometimes bleeding.”
Scientists are testing the hypothesis that damage to the nasal lining could provide a direct pathway for germs to reach the brain, potentially leading to neurological inflammation and the formation of “beta-amyloid” protein plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease and progressive neurodegeneration, as reported by the “New York Post”.
The Nose: An Unexpected Gateway to the Brain
While Alzheimer's is known for its devastating impact on memory, thinking, and reasoning, researchers have thus far been unable to pinpoint its fundamental cause. However, some have started focusing their attention on what is known as the nose-brain pathway, a vital route that connects the nasal cavity to the central nervous system.
Interestingly, the centers for processing the sense of smell are among the first areas to be affected in Alzheimer’s patients, prompting scientists to use smell tests as a non-invasive method to detect the risk of the disease at its early stages.
Mouse Experiment Raises Concerns
In a 2022 study conducted by researchers from Griffith University in Australia, scientists found that the habit of nose picking could contribute to transferring bacteria known as Chlamydia pneumoniae - known for causing respiratory infections - from the nose to the brain via the olfactory nerve, in laboratory mouse models.
The results showed that these bacteria led to the deposition of “beta-amyloid protein" in brain cells, where these protein fragments accumulate to form sticky plaques that hinder communication between nerve cells, and could ultimately lead to brain cell death, memory loss, and dementia.
A Cautious Scientific Warning
Neuroscientist James St. John, one of the study's researchers, stated in an interview with “Scientific Report”: “We are the first to prove that Chlamydia pneumoniae can travel directly from the nose to the brain, where it can cause diseases similar to Alzheimer's. We have observed this in mouse models, and these findings could be worrying for humans too.”
The significance of these results grows in light of the widespread prevalence of this bad habit; data from the National Library of Medicine indicates that about 90% of people clean their noses, with some doing it several times a day.
