02:59 PM
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Books – Sayed Metwally
Many people consider picking your nose just a bad habit, but it can also have a detrimental effect on your health, according to scientists from Griffith University, UK.
The study, conducted by researchers, found that Chlamydia pneumoniae, a type of bacteria that can cause infections in the respiratory tract, exploits the nerve extending between the nasal cavity and the brain as an invasion pathway to attack the central nervous system, according to the British newspaper Express.
In response, cells in the brain began depositing the protein beta-amyloid, a marker of Alzheimer’s disease. The results of the study are published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Professor James St John, Head of the Clemme Jones Center for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, said: “We are the first to show that Chlamydia pneumoniae can go straight into the nose and into the brain where it can cause Alzheimer’s-like diseases. We’ve seen this happen in a mouse model, and the evidence is scary.” Probably for humans too.”
The next step is to conduct the research on humans, and the professor continued: “We need to conduct this study in humans and make sure if the same pathway works in the same way. It is research that has been proposed by many people, but it is not completed yet. What we do know is that these bacteria It’s the same in humans, but we haven’t determined how it gets there.”
There are some simple ways to take care of the lining of your nose and reduce your risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s that Professor St John suggests.
“Picking your nose and pulling the hair out of your nose is not a good idea,” he said.
“We don’t want to damage the inside of our nose, if you damage the lining of the nose, you can increase the number of bacteria that can get into your brain.”
Smell tests may also help detect Alzheimer’s disease, according to Professor St John, with loss of smell being an early indicator.
He suggests that smell tests when a person reaches the age of 60 might be useful as an early detector.
He said: “Once you get over 65, your risk factor goes up right, but we’re also looking for other causes, because it’s not just age – it’s environmental exposure as well, and we think bacteria and viruses are critical.”
There’s no one way to prevent all types of dementia, but there’s good evidence that a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing dementia when you’re older.
It may also help to be aware of risk factors, such as:
Age: The older you get, the more likely you are to develop dementia, however, dementia is not a normal part of aging.
Genes: In general, genes alone are not thought to cause dementia, however, certain genetic factors are involved with some less common types.
Dementia is usually caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as smoking and lack of regular exercise
lower levels of education
Other risk factors may also be important:
hearing loss
Untreated depression
Feeling lonely or socially isolated
Sitting most of the day
The following may help reduce the risk:
Eat a healthy and balanced diet
Maintain a healthy weight
Exercising regularly
stop smoking
Maintaining blood pressure at a healthy level
