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A recent study published in Scientific Reports shows that frequent nose picking may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The study was conducted by a research team at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Picking your nose is a seemingly insignificant habit that almost everyone has had. It is not only a way to clean your nasal cavity, but sometimes it can also bring an indescribable sense of comfort. However, a recent scientific study has revealed a surprising fact: frequent nose picking may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common respiratoryPathogens, which primarily infects the lungs and nasal mucosa. Past studies have linked the bacteria not only to respiratory illnesses but also to a variety of other diseases, including Alzheimer's.

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Researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine conducted experiments on adult mice and found that Chlamydia pneumoniae can infect the central nervous system through the olfactory and trigeminal nerves and invade the brain through neural pathways within 24 to 72 hours after infection without the need for blood transmission. More importantly, infection with this bacteria is associated with the deposition of beta-amyloid protein in the brain, and the abnormal accumulation of this protein is considered to be one of the key factors in the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers inoculated mice with Chlamydia pneumoniae in their nasal cavities, and then analyzed the infection of the pathogen on the olfactory mucosa, olfactory bulb, trigeminal nerve and brain at different time periods, and also observed the changes in beta-amyloid deposits in the brain. The results showed that beta-amyloid deposits could be observed in the olfactory nerves of mice in the early stages after infection, but no such phenomenon was observed in the control group.

The nasal epithelium is the body's first line of defense against external microorganisms, and it can effectively protect nerves from damage. However, if the olfactory neuroepithelium in the nasal cavity is damaged, Chlamydia pneumoniae will be more likely to invade, not only the invasion speed will be accelerated, but also the number of pathogens will increase. For those who often pick their noses, nasal epithelial damage is almost inevitable, which provides Chlamydia pneumoniae with an opportunity to take advantage of the situation, which may induce more serious infections and accelerate the development of Alzheimer's disease.

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Professor James St John, one of the authors of the study, emphasized that picking your nose and pulling out your nose hair are not healthy behaviors. If the nasal epithelium is damaged, more pathogens may invade the brain. Therefore, if you really can't help but want to pick your nose, you can consider using saline to clean your nasal cavity, or make sure your hands are clean before doing it.

Although the study was conducted in mice, it suggests that Chlamydia pneumoniae infection may pose a similar threat to humans. Future studies will further explore whether the bacteria also affect humans through similar pathways, increasing the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

refer to

Chacko, A., Delbaz, A., Walkden, H. et al. Chlamydia pneumoniae can infect the central nervous system via the olfactory and trigeminal nerves and contributes to Alzheimer’s disease risk. Sci Rep 12, 2759 (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06749-9