'Super Smeller' Inspires Test To Spot Parkinson's 7 Years Before Diagnosis

SwabRoughly 153,000 people in the UK live with Parkinson’s, a brain condition that mostly affects the dopamine-producing neurons found in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra.But one survey found that over a quarter of people with Parkinson’s were diagnosed with the wrong condition first, which is a shame, as early diagnosis can be very beneficial.Now, though, scientists at the University of Manchester (UM) believe they may have found promising data that suggests skin swabs could help to spot the condition seven years before diagnosis. Published in the journal Parkinson’s Disease, UM says the research was inspired by a “super smeller.” How can skin swabs help to spot Parkinson’s? Joy Milne, a “super smeller,” began noticing something strange when working as a nurse: she smelled something different on some of her patients. Once she noted the scent on her husband, she realised she could smell Parkinson’s (or more specifically, isolated REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder or iRBD, linked to Parkinson’s).This led University of Manchester scientists to look at the chemical makeup of the sebum (oil) of people with iRBD and Parkinson’s using Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. This helps to measure volatile and semi-volatile compounds in a sample.Looking at 46 participants with Parkinson’s, nine with iRBD, and 28 with neither condition, they found that though the oil changes were stronger on those with Parkinson’s, they were also detectable among those with iRBD, which comes earlier. Professor Perdita Barran, Professor of Mass Spectrometry at The University of Manchester, said: “This is the first study to demonstrate a molecular diagnostic method for Parkinson’s disease at the prodromal or early stage.“It brings us one step closer to a future where a simple, non-invasive skin swab could help identify people at risk before symptoms arise, allowing for earlier intervention and improved outcomes.”Currrently, Parkinson’s is diagnosed at the stage of neurological changes.The test they hope for would be non-invasiveResearchers hope that this information can lead to a skin swab test years down the line. It would pick up skin oils on a cotton swab which would then be analysed. Dr Drupad Trivedi, a lecturer in Analytical Measurement Sciences at The University of Manchester, said: “Our goal is to develop a reliable, non-invasive test that helps doctors detect Parkinson’s earlier, track its progression, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.“We’re also keen to hear from other hyperosmic individuals, potential ‘super smellers’ like Joy, whose remarkable sense of smell could help extend our work to detect other diseases with potential odour signatures.” Related...Gut Health Discovery Could Help Future Parkinson's DiagnosesParkinson’s Cases Are Set To Double By 2050. Here Are 5 Early Signs To Watch ForParkinson's Cause Mystery Solved In Life Changing Study

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