The habit of picking your nose may increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This is due to the increased likelihood of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi entering the body. This conclusion was reached by scientists from Western Sydney University (Australia). Research results published In the journal Biomolecules.
Touching the mucous membranes of the nose with dirty hands can lead to pathogens entering the brain and subsequently causing inflammation, Australian researchers said. Inflammation, in turn, can cause beta-amyloid proteins to accumulate in brain structures. This pathology is characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.
Pathogens that can trigger neuroinflammation include herpes virus, coronaviruses, Candida albicans fungi, and pneumonia-causing bacteria.
According to researchers, infectious agents can remain in the nasal cavity for a long time without affecting the brain. This means that years can pass between the pathogen entering the body and the onset of dementia symptoms.
The scientists’ study is a scientific review based on the results of more than a hundred previous studies on Alzheimer’s disease. One of these showed that nasal chlamydial pneumonia infection actually caused greater accumulation of toxic proteins in the brains of mice.
The link between dementia and herpes simplex virus is based on the APOE4 gene, which also predisposes humans to Alzheimer’s disease. The relevant study cited by scientists showed that approximately 60% of people who carry the APOE4 gene and suffer from Alzheimer’s disease also have the herpes simplex virus in their brains.
It has also been noted that Candida, Malassezia, Cladosporium and Alternaria fungi can cause neuroinflammation in people with weak immune systems.
Previously was named Factor that triples the risk of dementia.