A study published in 2022 reveals a weak but plausible link between the choice of your nose and an increase in the risk of developing dementia.
In cases where the nasal election damages the internal tissues, critical bacteria have a clearer path to the brain, which responds to their presence in ways that resemble signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
There are many warnings here, last but not least that supportive studies are based on mice, not on humans, but the discoveries are definitely worth an additional study – and could improve our understanding of how Alzheimer’s, which remains a mystery.
A team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Griffith in Australia have conducted tests with a bacterium called Chlamydia Pneumoniaewhich can infect people and cause pneumonia.
The bacteria have also been found in most of the human brain affected by late-stage dementia.
It has been proven that bacteria can go through the olfactory nerve (joining the nasal cavity and brain). Moreover, when there was damage to the nasal epithelium (thin tissue along the roof of the nasal cavity), nerve infections worsen.
This led to the brain of the mouse to deposit more than the amyloid-bet protein-protein, which is released in response to infections. The plaques (or lumps) of this protein are also in significant concentrations in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
“We are the first to show that Chlamydia Pneumoniae It can go directly up the nose and in the brain, where pathologies that resemble Alzheimer’s disease can go, “said neuronuk James St. John of the University of Griffith in Australia in October 2022 when the study was released.
“We saw this happen in Misha Model and the evidence is potentially scary for people too.”
Scientists were surprised by the speed at which C. Pneumoniae Management in the central nervous system of mice, with the infection occurring within 24 to 72 hours. Bacteria and viruses are thought to see the nose as a quick path to the brain.
Although it is not certain that the effects will be the same in humans or even that the amyloid plaques are the cause of Alzheimer’s, it is still important to trace the promising leaders in the struggle to understand this general neurodegenerative status.
“We need to do this study with people and confirm whether the same path works the same way,” said St. John.
“It is the study that has been suggested by many people, but they have not yet been completed. What we know is that these same bacteria are present in humans, but we have not understood how they get there.”
Choosing a nose is not exactly something. In fact, it is possible for 9 out of 10 people to do it … Not to mention a bunch of other species (some slightly more gone than others). Although the benefits are not clear, studies like this should pause us before choosing.
Future studies have been planned for the same processes in humans – but until then St. John and his colleagues suggest that choosing your nose and tingling your hair on your nose is not a good idea because of the potential damage that causes the protective tissue of the nose.
An exceptional question that the team will seek to answer is whether or not the enlargement of the protein deposits of the amyloid-beta are a natural, healthy immune response that can be reversed when the infection is conducted.
Alzheimer’s is an incredibly complicated disease, as is clear from the large number of studies in it and the many different angles that scientists are taking, trying to understand it – but every study brings us a little closer to finding a way to stop it.
“After you are over 65, your risk factor goes right, but we also look at other reasons, because it’s not just age – it’s also an environmental exposure,” said St. John.
“And we believe that bacteria and viruses are critical.”
The study has been published in Scientific reportsS
A version of this article was first published in November 2022.