Can Picking Your Nose Cause Alzheimer’s Disease?

Don’t pick your nose, it could lead to developing Alzheimer’s disease. At least this is what researchers from Western Sydney University say.

Your teachers always told you not to do it. But this is because picking your nose is gross and disgusting, especially when you do it in public. But now you have an additional reason not to do it. And why would you want to stick your finger up your nose anyway?

“It is essential to note that the temporary relief obtained from nose picking is not a substitute for proper nasal hygiene,” said the researchers’ report which was published in MDPI. This involves regular cleaning and maintenance of the nasal passages through gentle methods such as saline nasal rinses or blowing the nose.

This all has to do with a protein called beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid (Aβ) is a peptide, a short chain of amino acids, that is found in the brain. It is a normal part of the brain, but in people with Alzheimer’s disease, it builds up abnormally and forms clumps called amyloid plaques. These plaques are thought to be one of the main causes of the damage that occurs in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that gradually destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. It is the most common cause of dementia in people over the age of 65.

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells. These proteins form plaques and tangles that disrupt the communication between neurons and eventually lead to cell death.

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. These treatments include medications, lifestyle changes, and cognitive therapy.

The researchers explained that Neuroinflammation, characterized by the activation of microglia and astrocytes and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and free radicals, has been increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to AD pathogenesis and progression. One of the activators of microglia is Aβ, which binds to the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End products, a cell surface receptor that is involved in inflammation and immune responses. The activation of RAGE by Aβ may contribute to microglial activation.

The olfactory system, they wrote, represents a plausible route for pathogen entry, given its direct anatomical connection to the brain and its involvement in the early stages of AD.

“Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease might be partially caused by viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens entering the brain through the nose and the olfactory system,” says the report.

“There is even some evidence to suggest that [beta-amyloid] may have antibacterial properties as a defense mechanism against microbial infections in the brain,” the researchers stated.