A skin swab can detect Parkinson’s disease up to seven years before symptoms appear, researchers found
A woman who smelled her husband’s Parkinson’s before it was diagnosed has helped develop a new test for detecting the disease up to seven years before symptoms appear.
Scientists at the University of Manchester discovered that compounds found in sebum — the oily substance produced by our skin — hold key biomarkers for identifying Parkinson’s in its earliest stages.
By using mass spectrometry, a technique that measures the weight of molecules, researchers found that there are distinctive Parkinson’s markers in sebum, which led them to develop this non-invasive swab test. They said the discovery could be a game-changer for managing the condition.
“Super smeller” Joy Milne, who detected her husband’s Parkinson’s disease 12 years before it was diagnosed, inspired the Manchester researchers to explore sebum as a source of diagnostic biomarkers.
Milne knew her husband, Les, had Parkinson’s when she identified a change in the way he smelled. She previously told the BBC he had a “musty, rather unpleasant smell” around his shoulders and the back of his neck, and his skin had definitely changed. Milne only linked the odour to the disease after Les was diagnosed, and they met people at a Parkinson’s UK support group who had the same smell.
The researchers, in collaboration with Salford Royal NHS Trust and the University of Innsbruck, analysed skin swabs from people with Parkinson’s, healthy volunteers, and those with a sleep disorder called isolated REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (iRBD) — a known early warning sign of Parkinson’s disease.
The goal is to develop a reliable, non-invasive test that helps doctors detect Parkinson’s earlier (Photo: BSIP/Getty)
The results showed that people with iRBD had distinct chemical profiles in their sebum that were different from healthy individuals, but not yet as pronounced as those with established Parkinson’s disease. This supports the idea that Parkinson’s disease leaves a detectable trace on the body well before physical symptoms appear, the researchers said.
As part of this study, Milne was able to distinguish swabs from people with iRBD from the control group and Parkinson’s patients. She was also able to detect both diseases in two of the swabs that came from iRBD individuals, who were later diagnosed with Parkinson’s at their next clinical appointment, after sampling.
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.”
The study involved more than 80 people, 46 of whom had Parkinson’s, 28 of whom were healthy and nine with iRBD. The team found 55 significant features in the sebum that varied between the groups. Those with iRBD often showed levels that sat between the healthy controls and the Parkinson’s group, reinforcing the possibility of detecting the disease in its early phase.
Dr Drupad Trivedi, a researcher from the University of Manchester, collected samples from Parkinson’s patients over a three-year period. He found patterns that suggest this method can also be used to map the progression of the disease, refine treatment options and improve patient outcomes.
Now, the researchers are continuing to develop and improve the sebum-based testing to eventually use as a practical tool in real-world clinical settings.
Dr Trivedi 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.”
The research is published today in the journal npj Parkinson’s Disease.