- Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, and it is thought that both environment and genetics play a part in its development.
- Research suggests that pathogens may also contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s, but the pathways by which they enter the brain have, until recently, been unclear.
- Now, a study from Australia has found that one bacterium, Chlamydia pneumoniae, enters the brain via the olfactory nerve from the nose leading to the development of amyloid beta plaques which are characteristic of Alzheimer’s.
- The authors suggest that nose-picking damages the nasal mucosa, making it easier for the bacteria to reach the olfactory nerve and enter the brain.
Nose-picking is a habit that is generally seen as unpleasant, but harmless. However, research from Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, suggests that the activity might not be as risk-free as previously thought.
The research, published in
Once in the brain, certain bacteria stimulate the deposition of amyloid beta protein, potentially leading to the development of Alzheimer’s disease(AD). Amyloid beta forms plaques that are thought to be responsible for many of the symptoms of AD, such as memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior.
Currently, AD affects almost 6 million people in the United States, with the numbers set to reach
The olfactory nerve leads directly from the nasal cavity to the brain. Bacteria that enter the olfactory nerve can, therefore, bypass the
The study, carried out in mice, showed that Chlamydia pneumoniae, a bacterium that
Cells in the brain responded to the invasion by C. pneumoniae by depositing amyloid beta protein. Amyloid beta protein builds up into plaques which are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
Prof. James St John, head of the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith University, Brisbane, was a supervising author of the study. He told Medical News Today:
“Other studies have shown that Chlamydia pneumoniae is present in Alzheimer’s plaques in human (using post-mortem analyses). However, it is not known how the bacteria get there, and whether they cause AD pathologies or are just associated with it.”
“Our work in mice shows that the same bacteria can quickly go up the olfactory nerve and initiate pathologies similar to AD,” he said.
This study adds to evidence from several studies that have suggested a link between pathogens and dementia.
In 2008, a study suggested that C. pneumoniae infection might trigger late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Another study in 2010 linked C. pneumoniae infection with Alzheimer’s pathogenesis, finding C. pneumoniae, amyloid deposits, and neurofibrillary tangles together in the brain.
Prof. St John believes it is not only C. pneumoniae that may trigger Alzheimer’s:
“We think there are potentially many microorganisms that may contribute to the onset of AD. For example, herpes simplex virus is implicated in several studies. And it may be that it requires [a] combination of microbes and genetics. We all have bacteria/viruses in our brains, but we don’t all get AD, so it might be a combination of microbes and genetics that lead to pathologies and symptoms.”
“We also think that it might be a long slow process. So we don’t think that getting the bacteria in the brain means that you will get dementia next week. Instead, we think the bacteria set off a slow progression of pathologies that may take decades before resulting in symptoms,” he added.
“Viral contributions to Alzheimer’s disease are an intriguing area of research looking at this association, but to date, no definitive cause and effect relation has been shown, including in humans. Alzheimer’s is a complex disease with many contributing factors. And while we need to explore all pathways, there are likely multiple causes that contribute to the underlying biology of the disease.”
— Dr. Heather Snyder, Alzheimer’s Association vice president of medical and scientific relations, who was not involved in the study.
This study showed that C. pneumoniae easily traveled from the nose to the brain in mice, so the researchers are now extending their investigations to people.
“We have ethics approval to start a study in humans to be conducted in Queensland, Australia. We will be recruiting people with early stages of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and then determining what bacteria are present in their noses and what gene and protein changes are occurring,” Prof. St John told MNT.
“It is of course possible and would be very valuable to see if the results from this interesting study on mice could be extrapolated to people.”
— Dr. Emer MacSweeney, CEO and consultant neuroradiologist at Re:Cognition Health, who was not involved in the study
And other investigations are also underway, as Dr. Snyder outlined:
“This particular study was conducted in mice, and mice are not humans. While this paper shows an association, we need to see this work replicated in humans and a better understanding if this is more than an association.”
“There is, however, work ongoing aimed to address some of these questions. The Alzheimer’s Association is currently funding research out of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to better understand the potential link between Chlamydia pneumoniae and Alzheimer’s-related brain changes,” Dr. Snyder added.
So, will nose-picking increase your risk of AD? Although research is ongoing for a definite causal relationship, the habit of nose-picking may have some other health risks, including:
- introducing viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants into the nose,
- spreading bacteria and viruses from the nose onto surfaces in the environment,
- damaging the tissues and structures inside the nose.
This damage and the introduction of pathogens may increase Alzheimer’s risk, research so far indicates.
Prof. St. John advised that nose-picking and plucking hair from the nose should be avoided. “If you damage the lining of the nose, you can increase how many bacteria can go up into your brain,” he said.
So, should people resist the urge to dig out those boogers? Dr. MacSweeney believes it might be a good idea:
“We don’t know today if people should be advised not to pick their noses, but [it] seems sensible to err on the side of caution, in light of these early results on mice.”