According to a recent study, picking your nose may raise your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It is thought that a protein known as beta-amyloid is the source of the Alzheimer’s disease-specific progressive dementia.
Furthermore, a recent investigation suggests that the brain produces beta-amyloid as a defense mechanism against germs that enter through the nasal canal, often known as when someone sticks their dirty fingers in their nose.
Consequently, the authors of the report hypothesized that “pathogens entering the brain through the olfactory system might be partially responsible for neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease.” According to a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Biomolecules, “there is even some evidence to suggest that beta-amyloid may have antibacterial properties as a defense mechanism against microbial infections in the brain.”
According to the report, there is a correlation between Alzheimer’s disease and infections caused by viruses, fungi, and bacteria. It further states that these pathogens can create chronic, latent, or persistent infections in peripheral tissues, such as the nasal epithelium, where they can linger for a long time without showing symptoms until they cause pathological consequences in the brain.
The research stated, “Given its direct anatomical connection to the brain and its involvement in the early stages of AD, the olfactory system represents a plausible route for pathogen entry.” According to estimates from the Mayo Clinic, the condition affects 6.5 million Americans who are 65 years of age or older; about 70% of these patients are 75 years of age or older.
Dementia in the progressive brain condition is the most prevalent type. It is believed that up to 70% of the 55 million people who suffer from dementia worldwide are affected by Alzheimer’s disease. A “combination of age-related changes in the brain, along with genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors” may be the cause, according to the National Institute on Aging.