Woman able to smell out Parkinson's disease

Scientists have developed a new Parkinson’s test thanks to a woman who has the ability to sniff out the disease. Joy Milner, 72, claimed she had detected a striking change in her late husband’s odour, years before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The unique ability has since been put to the test, culminating in the development of a swab test for the disease, The Telegraph reports.

Discernible odour

A team of scientists and researchers at the University of Manchester set out to put Mrs Milner’s theory to test. The scientists conducted tests with the Perth, Australia widow to show if indeed Parkinson’s might have a discernible odour.

Mrs Milner was able to sniff out people who might have the disease just by smelling the t-shirts they had worn. In one such test, she was able to detect the disease in someone who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s eight months after his shirt was subjected to the sniff test.

She said the rare condition which gives her a heightened sense of smell is both a blessing and a curse as she sniffs the disease on people around her. She has however been advised to not pre-empt a diagnosis.

Which GP would accept a man or a woman walking in saying 'the woman who smells Parkinson's has told me I have it'? Maybe in the future but not now

Late diagnosis

Now, the team has developed a test which can identify people with the condition by using a simple cotton bud run along the back of the neck, The Telegraph.

At the moment, diagnosis is solely based on a patient's symptoms and medical history. It is hoped that this skin swab will be a success outside laboratory conditions, so diagnosis can be faster allowing for early treatment/management. Mrs Milner added:

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.

Read more:

⋙ Parkinson's: Brits will be given life-saving smart watches to help fight disease

⋙ Parkinson’s: These are the early symptoms to watch out for

⋙ 'Sniff test': This is how to tell if your milk has gone bad