據外媒報道，《科學報告》雜志發(fā)布的一項研究顯示，科學家通過老鼠實驗發(fā)現(xiàn)，挖鼻孔可使肺炎衣原體通過鼻腔進入大腦，攻擊中樞神經系統(tǒng)。這種細菌一旦進入大腦，會促進β淀粉樣蛋白沉積，而這正是癡呆癥和阿爾茨海默癥的病理特征。研究負責人稱，在小鼠實驗中看到的這一證據對人類來說也需警惕。

A mouse study suggests an especially disgusting risk factor for dementia: nose picking.
一項針對老鼠的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，挖鼻孔是導致癡呆癥的一個風險因素。

Digging around in the nasal passage sends a bacteria known as Chlamydia pneumoniae up through the nasal passage and into the brain where it then attacks the central nervous system, according to the recent study, published in the journal, Scientific Reports. Once in the brain, the bacteria stimulates the deposit of amyloid beta protein thought to be a hallmark of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
這項最新研究發(fā)布在《科學報告》雜志。研究顯示，挖鼻孔可使肺炎衣原體通過鼻腔進入大腦，攻擊中樞神經系統(tǒng)。肺炎衣原體一旦進入大腦，會促進β淀粉樣蛋白的沉積，這是癡呆癥和阿爾茨海默癥的標志。

“We’re the first to show that Chlamydia pneumoniae can go directly up the nose and into the brain where it can set off pathologies that look like Alzheimer’s disease,” Professor James St John, Head of the Clem Jones Center for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, told SciTechDaily.com. “We saw this happen in a mouse model, and the evidence is potentially scary for humans as well.”
克萊姆·瓊斯神經生物學和干細胞研究中心負責人詹姆斯·圣約翰教授告訴SciTechDaily.com網站：“我們的研究首次證明，肺炎衣原體可以直接通過鼻子進入大腦，并在大腦引發(fā)類似阿爾茨海默病的病變。我們在小鼠實驗中看到了這種情況，這一證據對人類來說也需警惕。”

The team plans further study to see if the same pathways do in fact, exist in humans, St John added. If the relationship holds, St. John said it might suggest that memory loss might be modified by limiting nose picking and playing with nose hairs, as well as other lifestyle factors.
他還表示，研究團隊已經在計劃下一階段的研究，旨在證明人類也存在同樣的通路。如果這種方式成立，這可能表明，通過避免挖鼻子和拔鼻毛等生活習慣，可以改善記憶力下降的情況。

Studies already show an intriguing connection between the brain and nose. A decline in a person’s sense of smell over time can foretell structural changes in regions of the brain important in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
已有研究證實，大腦和鼻子之間存在一種有趣的關聯(lián)。隨著時間的推移，一個人嗅覺下降可以預示大腦中與阿爾茨海默癥和癡呆癥相關區(qū)域的結構變化。

來源：SciTechDaily.com
編輯：董靜