Michelle Dickinson: nanotechologist on the new research revealing how our unique nasal 'fingerprints' could help health system

What if your next medical test involved breathing into a tube instead of drawing blood?  A new study out this week published in the journal Current Biology has discovered that every human has a way of breathing through their nose that is so unique to them, it can be used to identify individuals with incredible accuracy.  These personal "nasal respiratory fingerprints" may even hold powerful clues about your health, your mood, and even how your brain works.  We often take our breath for granted. But behind every inhale and exhale is a complex web of brain networks working quietly in the background.  The researchers attached tiny wearable device placed in a nasal cannula (like a mini oxygen tube) for 24-hour recordings on 100 volunteers. They found that a computer could identify individuals from their breathing patterns with up to 97 percent accuracy and this pattern remained stable for nearly two years.  The researchers found that these unique breathing patterns, could predict a person’s Body Mass Index (BMI), arousal state, and even levels of anxiety, depression, and traits related to autism.  They found that:  People with higher anxiety levels tended to take shorter inhales during sleep.  Higher depression scores were linked to stronger nasal airflow and longer pauses after breathing out.  And people with higher autism traits showed longer pauses between breaths and more variability in how they inhaled.  All this was measured passively, just from how air flows in and out of the nose.  The nose is more than just a smell detector, it’s closely linked to the brain’s emotional and cognitive circuits. Previous research has even shown that the rhythm of nasal breathing can sync up with brain waves and influence memory, attention, and emotion.  This study supports the idea that breathing, especially through the nose, is more than a life-sustaining reflex. It’s a mirror of our inner world.  The potential of this new discovery is huge! If nasal breathing patterns can reflect not only who we are but also how we feel and function, then this non-invasive technique could become a powerful tool in health monitoring, mental wellness, and neuroscience.  Instead of detecting early signs of depression or anxiety with a questionnaire, you could potentially diagnose in just a day's worth of breath.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.