Nose Picking Could Increase Risk for Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Summary: The Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria can travel directly from olfactory nerve in the nose and into the brain, forcing brain cells to deposit amyloid beta and inducing Alzheimer’s pathologies. Researchers say protecting the lining of the nose by not picking or plucking nasal hairs can help lower Alzheimer’s risks.
Source: Griffith University
Griffith University researchers have demonstrated that a bacteria can travel through the olfactory nerve in the nose and into the brain in mice, where it creates markers that are a tell-tale sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, showed that Chlamydia pneumoniae used the nerve extending between the nasal cavity and the brain as an invasion path to invade the central nervous system. The cells in the brain then responded by depositing amyloid beta protein which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
Professor James St John, Head of the Clem Jones Center for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, is a co-author of the world first research.
“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,” Professor St John said. “We saw this happen in a mouse model, and the evidence is potentially scary for humans as well.”
The olfactory nerve in the nose is directly exposed to air and offers a short pathway to the brain, one which bypasses the blood-brain barrier. It’s a route that viruses and bacteria have sniffed out as an easy one into the brain.
The team at the Center is already planning the next phase of research and aim to prove the same pathway exists in humans.
“We need to do this study in humans and confirm whether the same pathway operates in the same way. It’s research that has been proposed by many people, but not yet completed. What we do know is that these same bacteria are present in humans, but we haven’t worked out how they get there.”
There are some simple steps to look after the lining of your nose that Professor St John suggests people can take now if they want to lower their risk of potentially developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
“Picking your nose and plucking the hairs from your nose are not a good idea,” he said.
“We don’t want to damage the inside of our nose and picking and plucking can do that. If you damage the lining of the nose, you can increase how many bacteria can go up into your brain.”
Smell tests may also have potential as detectors for Alzheimer’s and dementia says Professor St John, as loss of sense of smell is an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease. He suggests smell tests from when a person turns 60 years old could be beneficial as an early detector.
“Once you get over 65 years old, your risk factor goes right up, but we’re looking at other causes as well, because it’s not just age—it is environmental exposure as well. And we think that bacteria and viruses are critical.”
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The link above for Chlamydia pneumoniae also has a link to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydia_trachomatis which is the chlamydia everyone thinks about when they hear that name. Interesting reading for both.
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16 comments:
I'm very concerned. For a friend
Mike, are you saying that birds nostrils allow them to breathe ! ?, i honestly thought they were there to give a viable alternative to geezers who only had very small very thin knobs (BTW, thats what i thought birds ears were for as well ! ! !).
Cloudia - Me too.
LJ - How do you remember all the fake IDs you have? It's been a while since you've been here, and yet, LJ, no problem.
I saw that story. And, since my sense of smell is diminished, I worry. Again.
Nothing against nose-picking : as long as its your own!
Sue - Usually it's one side of your nose that works less than the other. Do the peanut butter test. Put peanut butter on your finger. Block one side of your nose. and start moving the peanut butter toward your face. When you can smell it, write done the distance. Do the same with the other side of your nose. They should be the same distance. If not, you may have the beginning of a brain problem.
Stu - Old joke... You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose. But you can't pick your friend's nose.
I read this article in our newspaper and decided to start worrying if the day comes when I can no longer smell the cat food I dish out daily to Lola.
I've never had a good sense of smell. Wonder if I have a reason to be extra concerned?
River - Do the peanut butter test.
Kathy - As long as you pass the peanut butter test, you should be OK.
I wonder how the scientists got the mice to pick their noses?
GM - They probably just asked really nicely, "Hey mouse, would you pick my nose?"
I read that study too but I am not buying it. The top ten countries who are most affected by Alzheimer’s include (in the correct order of highest rate): Finland, United States, Canada, Iceland, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, and Belgium. Those with the lowest rates include India, Cambodia, Georgia, and Singapore. So are you telling me nobody picks their nose in Cambodia?
Lady - I tried to find the rates of Chlamydia pneumonia by country but had no luck. Lots of info about the disease but not by country. But I did find out that in Cambodia they keep their pinky finger nail long and only pick their nose with that one finger nail.
I'm with Cloudia.
So if I quit picking my nose when I was 15 I should be OK?
Bill - Do you have a "friend" also?
Jerry - Hold on... it's hard to type with one finger...
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