A comprehensive analysis of numerous studies on the origins of neurological diseases has found compelling evidence that frequent nose-picking may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This report, authored by researchers from Western Sydney University, was published in the Biomolecules journal late last year.
The researchers suggested that neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease could be partially triggered by viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens that enter the brain through the nose and olfactory system. Chronic nose-picking, or rhinotillexomania, exposes the sensitive nasal cavity to germs, leading to brain inflammation, a condition linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease, a neurodegenerative condition, affects over 6 million people, primarily those aged 65 and older. The exact cause of Alzheimer’s remains unknown to scientists. However, they have noticed an accumulation of a protein called tau in the brains of patients. This protein is associated with the body’s immune response.
The immune cells, when frequently activated by invasions, can cause stress on the body, leading to inflammation, which researchers believe can result in various diseases. The latest report supports this theory, suggesting that changes in the nasal environment due to an overgrowth of germs could lead to chronic, mild brain infections.
These infections may not show any external symptoms but can cause internal inflammation, resulting in harmful protein plaques that contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s. A range of common pathogens, such as pneumonia-causing bacteria, the herpes virus, the coronavirus, and the cat-derived parasite Toxoplasma gondii, have been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
The report’s authors strongly advise against nose-picking. If it is unavoidable, they recommend thorough hand-washing beforehand. They emphasized the importance of regular hand hygiene, a lesson learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and suggested that these hygienic procedures should be mandatory for habitual nose-pickers.