A new study has revealed a tenuous but plausible link between picking your nose and increasing the risk of developing dementia, Science Alert reports. In cases where picking at your nose damages internal tissues, critical species of bacteria have a clearer path to the brain, which responds to their presence in ways that resemble signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
There are plenty of caveats here, not least that so far the supporting research is based on mice rather than humans, but the findings are definitely worth further investigation – and could improve our understanding of how Alzheimer’s gets started, which remains something of a mystery.
A team of researchers led by scientists from Griffith University in Australia ran tests with a bacteria called Chlamydia pneumoniae, which can infect humans and cause pneumonia. The bacteria has also been discovered in the majority of human brains affected by late-onset dementia. It was demonstrated that in mice, the bacteria could travel up the olfactory nerve (joining the nasal cavity and the brain). What’s more, when there was damage to the nasal epithelium (the thin tissue along the roof of the nasal cavity), nerve infections got worse. This led to the mouse brains depositing more of the amyloid-beta protein – a protein which is released in response to infections. Plaques (or clumps) of this protein are also found in significant concentrations in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
“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,” says neuroscientist James St John from Griffith University in Australia.
“We saw this happen in a mouse model, and the evidence is potentially scary for humans as well.”
Nose picking isn’t exactly a rare thing. In fact, it’s possible as many as 9 out of 10 people do it… not to mention a bunch of other species (some a little more adept than others). While the benefits aren’t clear, studies like this one should give us pause before picking. Read more at Science Alert.
Mice pick their noses? Wow, I learn something new every day! I hope they remember, as humans should: You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friend’s nose… unless you’re in the surgeon’s office with her looking through the rhinoplasty catalogue.
LOL
@bearwithme, I picked my friend’s nose from the rhinoplasty catalogue, and now my friend is suing me in court for plagiarizing his nose and for copyright infringement.
My defense argument in court will be simple and concise: Only the Lord can sue me for what I did, for ultimately he is the one who creates all noses.
Someone told me I should have picked a mouse’s nose from the rhinoplasty catalogue because mice don’t sue people. But I told him I’m not worried, I’ll win this one in court with flying colors, and I believe I’ll be able to keep my new nose.
Ironically, I saw the court documents pertaining to my upcoming trial, and I noticed that the Judge has dubbed my court case: “Nose vs Nose”. That’s ridiculous.
You can pick your friends.
Yep.
You can pick your nursing home.
I’m immediately instructing my pet mouse to quit nose picking
“In fact, it’s possible as many as 9 out of 10 people do it.” Huh? 90% have Alzheimers? No wonder they were able to fool so many humans with their quacksine.
From Science Alert: The same science that told you to get the quacks and boooosters.
Gov’ts controls the “study”. Scientists produce the “study” gov’ts want. If the information is different than their narrative, they won’t get published.
Regarding Alzheimer: VACCINES TAKING ALUMINUM TO THE BRAIN CAUSING ALZHEIMER.
Covid tests may have the same effect…
It’s the PCR Covid “tests” pushed up your nose causing it.
John Hopkins Univ confirms you can be vaxinated with a PCR test even without knowing. “I believe they may have mass vaccinated the world with the PCR nose swab test.”
We’ve got ourselves a serious quagmire. I can only jump so high while suffering a bout of sciatica. Take it slow. I just don’t get the file banter.