Picking your nose increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia

Researchers have shown that a bacterium can enter the brains of mice through the olfactory nerves of the nose, where it produces markers
of Alzheimer's disease.

Griffith University October 28 news

A study led by researchers at Griffith University suggests that Chlamydia pneumoniae invades the central nervous system
using the nerves between the nasal cavity and the brain as an invasion pathway.
The cells in the brain then respond by depositing amyloid, a hallmark
of Alzheimer's disease.
The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports
.

The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports (latest impact factor: 4.
996) on February 17, 2022

Professor James St John, director of the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, is the world's first co-author of such a study
.

Professor St John said: "We are the first to show that Chlamydia pneumoniae can enter the brain directly through the nose and trigger lesions similar to Alzheimer's disease there
.
We see this in mouse models, and this evidence can also be scary
for humans.
”

The olfactory nerve in the nose is directly exposed to air, providing the brain with a shortcut to bypass the blood-brain barrier
.
This is a shortcut for viruses and bacteria to sniff out into the brain
.

The center's research team is already planning the next phase of research, aiming to prove that the same pathway
exists in humans.

"We need to do this in humans and confirm whether the same pathways work
in the same way.
" Many people have proposed this research, but it has not yet been completed
.
What we do know is that these bacteria are also present in humans, but we don't yet know how they got there
.
”

Professor St John suggests that if people want to reduce their risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease, there are some simple steps they can take now to take care of the lining of their nose
.

"Picking your nose and pulling your nose hair is not a good idea
," he said.
”

"We don't want to damage the inside of the nose, and picking our nose causes that injury
.
"

"If you destroy the inner wall of your nose, the number of bacteria entering the brain increases
.
"

Professor St John said the olfactory test also had the potential to be used as a test for Alzheimer's disease and dementia, as olfactory loss is an early indicator
of Alzheimer's disease.
He suggests that olfactory tests starting at a person's age 60 may be beneficial early detection
.

"Once you're over 65, your risk factors go up, but we're also looking at other causes because it's not just age, but environmental exposure
.
" We believe that bacteria and viruses are key
.
”

The research was supported
by the Goda Foundation and the Menzies Health Institute Queensland (MHIQ) in Queensland.

Griffith University, Australia, was founded in 1971