A study published in 2022 found a subtle but reasonable link between nose picking and an increased risk of dementia.
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A team of researchers led by scientists at Australia’s Griffith University tested a type of bacteria called Chlamydia pneumoniaewhich can infect humans and cause pneumonia.
Chlamydia pneumoniae This phenomenon is also found in the brains of most humans affected by late-onset dementia.
The video below summarizes the results of the study:
Research shows that in mice, bacteria can spread along the olfactory nerves that connect the nose to the brain.
What’s more, nerve infections can become more severe when the nasal epithelium (the thin tissue at the top of the nasal cavity) is damaged.
This caused the mice’s brains to deposit more beta-amyloid – a protein released in response to infection.
Plaques (or clumps) of this protein are also found in high concentrations in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
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“We are the first to prove this Chlamydia pneumoniae
“We see this happening in mouse models, and the evidence could be scary in humans as well.”
Scientists are surprised by its speed Chlamydia pneumoniae The virus takes hold in the mouse’s central nervous system, and infection occurs within 24 to 72 hours. Bacteria and viruses are thought to use the nose as a quick route to the brain.
“We need to do this study in humans and confirm whether the same pathways operate in the same way,” St. John said.
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Picking your nose is not an uncommon thing. In fact, it’s possible that as many as 9 out of 10 humans do this… not to mention many other species (some more adept than others).
While the benefits aren’t yet clear, studies like this should give us pause before making a choice.
“We don’t want to damage the inside of the nose, and picking and plucking will do that,” St. John warns.
“If you damage the lining of your nose, you increase the amount of bacteria that can get into your brain.”
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“We think bacteria and viruses are critical.”
The study was published in scientific report.
An earlier version of this article was published in November 2022.