Alzheimer's disease may be 'partially caused' by picking your nose—study
Think twice before you decide to pick your nose with your unclean finger as a new study suggested that this may cause a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
According to an October 2023 study that was published in the peer-reviewed journal Biomolecules, the neuroinflammation that causes Alzheimer's "might be partially caused by pathogens entering the brain through the olfactory system."
The researchers at Western Sydney University believed that a protein called beta-amyloid results in the progressive dementia that Alzheimer's patients suffer from, and that this protein may be produced in the brain when triggered by bacterial invasions introduced through the nose.
"The olfactory system represents a plausible route for pathogen entry, given its direct anatomical connection to the brain and its involvement in the early stages of AD,” the report stated.
Once the immune response activates, inflammation happens in the brain that can lead to the proteins building up over time and forming plaques, an abnormality in the nervous system that characterizes neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Now that nose-picking is possibly a factor in developing the disease, the team behind the study urged others to practice proper nasal hygiene.
"One of the lessons learned from COVID-19 is the value of hand hygiene through frequent hand washing and the use of hand sanitizers, and we suggest these routine hygienic procedures be mandatory routine procedures for the incurable nose-picker," the report explained.
While it noted that nose-picking can alleviate breathing difficulties due to the removal of dried mucus and other nasal debris, this habit is "generally not safe, in and outside of healthcare environments."
"It is essential to note that the temporary relief obtained from nose picking is not a substitute for proper nasal hygiene, which involves regular cleaning and maintenance of the nasal passages through gentle methods such as saline nasal rinses or blowing the nose," the study stressed.
According to data gathered by the Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), there are over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia in 2020. They projected that the number would almost double every 20 years, reaching 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050.
Alzheimer's is the most common disease affecting people with dementia, accounting for 50 to 75 percent of all cases. ADI details that it destroys brain cells and nerves disrupting the transmitters which carry messages in the brain, particularly those responsible for storing memories.