Joyce Milne noticed a strange odor years before her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. British scientists have developed a new test for the early detection of Parkinson’s disease. They were helped by an elderly Scottish woman who noticed that her husband began to smell strange long before he was diagnosed.
The results of an ordinary skin swab can be obtained in as little as three minutes, according to the developers of a new test at the University of Manchester. They hope that clinical trials of the new diagnostic method will take no more than two years, after which it will be ready for widespread use. This has the potential to revolutionize the detection and treatment of Parkinson’s disease, a devastating neurological disorder that affects more than 10 million people worldwide.
Until now, there have been no chemical tests to specifically diagnose Parkinson’s disease. Diagnosis has often been based on a neurological examination. Patients often seek medical attention in later stages of the disease, such as when characteristic limb tremors occur.
The new analysis is based on the observations of Joy Milne, a 72-year-old resident of Perth, Scotland, who worked as a nurse until she retired. With her unusually keen sense of smell, Joy noticed that her husband Les’s skin began to smell noticeably different – and 12 years later he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. “He developed a kind of musty, unpleasant smell – especially around his neck and shoulders,” Joy recalls. “And his skin was definitely changing.
The forest was a doctor by profession and wanted Joy to tell scientists about her observations. She first noticed the strange smell when Les was just over 30. But it was not until years later, when Les was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and they attended a meeting with other patients organized by the charity Parkinson’s UK, that Joy began to think about the connection. Joy sensed that the same odor was coming from other patients. Sam Les died in June 2015 at the age of 65. A physician by profession, he asked his wife to share his observations with medical scientists from several universities.
As an experiment, scientists tested Joy’s sense of smell – and were amazed: after sniffing 12 T-shirts, she was able to accurately identify who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and who had not. A team of specialists then gathered at the University of Manchester and worked with Joy to develop a simple test – a skin swab – to detect Parkinson’s.
We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what happens next. The number of offers should remain: episodes. End of story: Advertising in Podcasts According to scientists, the accuracy of the analysis under laboratory conditions is close to 95 percent. Essentially, this test replicates Joy’s unique sense of smell, which means it detects molecules that produce a barely perceptible odor.
Scientists have studied sebum collected with a cotton swab from the backs of patients – areas that are less frequently washed during showers. Using mass spectrometry to weigh molecules, they compared samples from 79 people with Parkinson’s disease to a control group of 71 healthy people. Researchers discovered more than 4,000 unique compounds in the samples, 500 of which were indistinguishable between groups. The results of the study were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The study was led by Professor Perdita Barran of the University of Manchester.
According to her, if this rapid analysis is actively used by therapists and general practitioners, it could revolutionize diagnostics. There are currently no specific laboratory tests for the disease and thousands of people in the UK are waiting for their turn for a full neurological examination.
Principal Investigator, Professor Perdita Barran, University of Manchester. Barran explained that the analysis is currently being tested in the research laboratory. Then it will be transferred to hospital laboratories and from there to a wider application within the healthcare system, the scientist hopes. “We hope to offer this test to patients in Manchester and the surrounding area in two years’ time,” Barran added.
Parkinson’s disease is the world’s leading neurological disorder in terms of disability and mortality. Currently, 10 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with this progressive degenerative brain disease. As the disease progresses, the patient begins to experience difficulties with mobility and speech, as well as characteristic limb tremors.
An earlier diagnosis means treatment can be more effective and quality of life improved, says Joy Milne. James Jopling, head of the Scottish branch of Parkinson’s UK, agrees. “The fact that treatment and support will be available [earlier] and that researchers will be able to develop new drugs is incredibly important,” says Jopling.
Joy believes that earlier diagnosis is crucial. According to Joy, if her family had known about Les’ diagnosis earlier, they would have spent more time together and traveled more. “She adds, “This would also help explain his mood swings and depression.” The night before he died, Les asked her not to stop her research on the scent because it will help others. Joy hopes that will come true.