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A 2022 study revealed a tenuous but plausible link between picking your nose and upping the chances of developing dementia.
In cases where picking at your nose damages internal tissues, critical species of bacteria gain an easier path to the brain, which responds to the bacteria's 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, a process that 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 have also been discovered in the majority of human brains affected by late-onset dementia.
www.sciencealert.com
In cases where picking at your nose damages internal tissues, critical species of bacteria gain an easier path to the brain, which responds to the bacteria's 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, a process that 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 have also been discovered in the majority of human brains affected by late-onset dementia.
Mouse Study Suggests an Unexpected Link Between Nose-Picking And Alzheimer's
A 2022 study revealed a tenuous but plausible link between picking your nose and upping the chances of developing dementia.
www.sciencealert.com
