Scientists able to develop a test for parkinson’s based on woman who can smell it

A woman in Scotland has the ability to detect changes in body odor that signify the presence or development of Parkinson's disease.

This talent is currently being used to create a quick test for Parkinson's that only requires running a cotton ball on the back of the neck for inspection, continuing Scotland's illustrious history of medical discoveries.

Joy Milne first observed a difference in her husband Les' natural scent when he was 33 years old, over 40 years ago.

Twelve years later, Les was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at an advanced stage, leading her to believe that this was the cause. She was aware that she had an extremely sensitive nose and couldn't enter the cleaning department of a store.

Les, a former physician, went in search of someone who could look at the relationship between smell and Parkinson's disease in more detail b back in 2012.

They found a professor at the University of Edinburgh thanks to their original investigation, and he assembled a team to test Joy's sense of smell.

They allowed Joy to smell the t-shirts of people with and without Parkinson's, as they believed that the disease damaged a type of skin oil known as sebum. She was successful in identifying which shirts belonged to the Parkinson's patients, although she made a mistake once, which she didn't realize was a mistake until 8 months later, when the Parkinson's diagnosis was given to the patient whose shirt it was.

“I think it has to be detected far earlier, the same as cancer and diabetes, earlier diagnosis means far more efficient treatment and a better lifestyle for people,” Joy told The Guardian.

“It has been found that exercise and change of diet can make a phenomenal difference.”

Years before any symptoms appear, the disease that gradually deteriorates the motor-function-related areas of the brain can be identified, allowing for treatment to considerably enhance future quality of life.

This line of research has been pioneered by Professor Perdita Barran at the University of Manchester. In 2019, she and her colleagues reported they have discovered chemicals associated to the disease in skin swabs, and they are currently the focus of a new possible testing regime.

When the particles of such oils are exposed to mass spectrometry, sebum examined for Parkinson's can reveal a possible positive result.

“At the moment, there are no cures for Parkinson’s but a confirmatory diagnostic would allow them to get the right treatment and get the drugs that will help to alleviate their symptoms,” said Barran.

“What we are now doing is seeing if (hospital laboratories) can do what we’ve done in a research lab,” she added.

If possible, the test could send the patient to a specialist for a more thorough examination.