Woman Smelled Parkinson’s On Her Husband Years Before His Diagnosis

Scottish woman Joy Milne's acute sense of smell has paved the way for groundbreaking advancements in Parkinson's disease detection. Her sensory ability to detect a distinct odor associated with the disease years before clinical diagnosis has intrigued scientists and offers hope that there will be earlier intervention strategies.

A Scent That Predicted A Diagnosis

Joy Milne had been with her husband, Les, since she was 16. Over the years, she had become intimately familiar with his natural scent. However, in his early thirties, Joy noticed an unusual, musky odour coming from Les's shoulders and the back of his neck. 

Blaming it on hygiene issues initially, she would often remark, "You must not be showering properly," which Les dismissed at the time. It was years later when Les was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 45, that the significance of this scent became clear. 

Towards A Scientific Breakthrough

Joy realised that she could detect Parkinson's through her sense of smell, during a support group meeting. She observed that other individuals with Parkinson's shared the same distinct smell that she had noticed in Les. On the basis of this observation, she collaborated with researchers to explore the potential of olfactory detection in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

In controlled tests, Joy was presented with T-shirts worn by both Parkinson's patients and healthy individuals. She was able to accurately identify the shirts worn by those with the disease, even correctly identifying one from the control group who was diagnosed months later. 

Pioneering a New Diagnostic Approach

Inspired by Joy's extraordinary sense of smell, scientists at the University of Manchester have now developed a skin-swab test capable of detecting Parkinson's disease with an accuracy of 95% under laboratory conditions. 

This test involves running a simple cotton swab along the back of one's neck to collect sebum, an oily substance produced by the skin, which is then analyzed for specific biomarkers associated with Parkinson's Disease. 

Joy's contribution and her keen sense of smell have not only provided a deeper understanding of Parkinson's but also opened new avenues for early detection and intervention. This development offers hope to millions affected by the disease, highlighting the importance of innovative approaches in healthcare.