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A 2022 study led by Griffith University scientists suggests a surprising potential link between nose-picking and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, at least in mice.
The research, published in Scientific Reports, found that when mice picked up infections caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae, a bacterium known to cause pneumonia and found in many brains affected by late-onset dementia, the bacteria traveled up the olfactory nerve to the brain. Damage to nasal tissues appeared to ease the bacteria's path, triggering the brain to deposit amyloid-beta protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
“We're the first to show that Chlamydia pneumoniae can go directly up the nose and into the brain where it can set off pathologies that look like Alzheimer’s disease,” said neuroscientist James St John. “The evidence is potentially scary for humans as well.”
The bacteria infiltrated the mice’s central nervous systems within 24 to 72 hours, prompting a response similar to the early stages of dementia. While the research has yet to be replicated in humans, scientists stress the importance of the findings in understanding how environmental factors, such as bacterial infections, may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers emphasize the need for human studies to confirm whether similar mechanisms are at play. In the meantime, they advise against nose-picking and nasal hair plucking, citing potential damage to protective tissue.
The study contributes to ongoing efforts to better understand the complex causes of Alzheimer’s, which remains a mystery despite age being a known risk factor. “We think that bacteria and viruses are critical,” St John added.
Read the original study here: Chlamydia pneumoniae can infect the central nervous system via the olfactory and trigeminal nerves and contributes to Alzheimer’s disease risk
