Alzheimer's Disease 'Might Be Partially Caused' by Nose Picking

Mar. 15, 2025

Can picking your nose cause Alzheimer’s disease?.Photo:Getty

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Picking your nose might increase your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a new study shows.

A protein called beta-amyloid is believed to be a cause of theprogressive dementiathat characterizesAlzheimer’s disease. And according to arecent report, beta-amyloid may be produced in the brain as a defense mechanism to pathogens that are introduced via the nasal cavity — a.k.a., sticking dirty fingers in the nose.

“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 report, published in the peer-reviewed journalBiomolecules,said.

Does nose-picking cause Alzheimer’s disease?.Getty

Viral, fungal, and bacterial infections are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, the report said, adding that “these pathogens are known to establish persistent, latent, or chronic infections in peripheral tissues, including the nasal epithelium, where they may persist for extended periods without causing overt symptoms, until they enter the brain with pathological consequences.”

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

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TheMayo Clinicestimates that 6.5 million people in the United States age 65 and older have the disease, with more than 70% of those patients being 75 years old and older. The progressive brain disorder is the most common form ofdementia.

Alzheimer’s diseaseis estimated to be the cause of up to 70% of the 55 million people globally with dementia. TheNational Institute on Agingsays its cause can be a “combination of age-related changes in the brain, along with genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.”

Instead of picking your nose, researchers recommend blowing it.Getty

If one of those lifestyle factors is, indeed, nose-picking, the report’s authors urged people to stop — even though picking out dried mucus can help someone breathe more easily.

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

“One of the lessons learned fromCOVID-19is the value of hand hygiene through frequent hand washing and the use of hand sanitizers, and we suggest these routine hygienic procedures be mandatory routine procedures for the incurablenose-picker,” the reported added.

source: people.com