We have all unintentionally or out of simple curiosity picked our noses as kids, which was immediately followed by an adult telling us that it is bad habit to do so. Nose-picking is a very common habit, and most people think it's harmless, even if it's considered impolite. However, a study from Griffith University in Australia suggests that this simple act could be riskier than we think. The study looks at how picking your nose might actually increase your risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. The research, which was published in Nature Scientific Reports, explores how certain bacteria can travel from the nose directly to the brain. Once there, they might trigger the kind of biological changes that lead to Alzheimer’s. Can Nose Infections Affect Your Brain? Your nose has a special connection to your brain through the olfactory nerve, which is responsible for your sense of smell. This nerve provides a direct pathway, allowing bacteria to bypass the body's normal defenses that would typically stop them from reaching the brain. In a study on mice, scientists found that a bacterium called Chlamydia pneumoniae, which can cause respiratory infections like pneumonia, used this exact route to get into the central nervous system. Once the bacteria entered the brain, the brain's cells responded by creating a substance called amyloid beta protein. This protein is a key part of the plaques that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. These plaques are thought to cause many of the disease's symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion. This research shows how a simple action like damaging the inside of your nose could create an opening for these harmful bacteria to get into your brain. Could Your Nose And Brain Disorders Be Connected? The study adds to a growing amount of evidence that links infections caused by pathogens (like bacteria and viruses) to dementia. In the past, other studies have found C. pneumoniae in the brains of people who had Alzheimer's. However, this new research in mice is the first to show how these bacteria might actually get there and start the disease process. The researchers believe that it's likely not just this one bacterium that can cause problems. It could be a combination of different germs and a person's genetics. For example, some studies have also connected the herpes simplex virus to Alzheimer's. The researchers also think that this isn't a quick process. Getting bacteria in your brain today doesn't mean you'll get dementia next week. Instead, it's believed to set off a very slow progression of changes that might take decades before any symptoms appear. Why You Should Stop Picking Your Nose While we still need more research to fully prove a direct link between nose-picking and Alzheimer's, the habit can cause other health issues. When you pick your nose, you can easily introduce germs, like viruses and bacteria, into your nasal cavity. You can also spread those germs to other surfaces. Most importantly, picking your nose and even plucking nose hairs can damage the delicate tissues inside your nose. This damage can create tiny openings, which, as the research shows, could make it easier for bacteria to travel to your brain.