Nose-Picking May Have a Surprise Link With Alzheimer's, Study in Mice Suggests

Key Points:

• Researchers have identified a potential but unconfirmed link between nose picking and an increased risk of dementia, based on studies in mice showing that nasal tissue damage allows bacteria to reach the brain and trigger Alzheimer's-like pathology.
• The bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae, found in many human brains affected by late-onset dementia, was shown in mice to travel via the olfactory nerve to the brain, where it increased deposits of amyloid-beta protein associated with Alzheimer's disease.
• While the findings are preliminary and derived from animal models, scientists emphasize the need for further research in humans to confirm whether this pathway contributes to Alzheimer's development.
• Experts advise against nose picking and nose hair plucking due to the risk of damaging nasal tissue, which may facilitate bacterial entry to the brain, potentially increasing neuroinflammation linked to dementia.
• Improved hygiene practices, such as frequent hand washing, are suggested as simple preventive measures to reduce the risk of pathogen entry through the nose, drawing parallels with lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.