Joy Milne, 72, from Scotland, noticed a change in her husband’s smell and said she thought she had Parkinson’s 12 years ago. 12 years later, his wife was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. It was discovered that Parkinson’s odor comes most strongly not from sweaty underarms, but from the back of people’s necks and between the shoulder blades. About the smell of Joy parkinson, “She had this musty, rather unpleasant smell, especially on her shoulders and neck, and her skin had definitely changed.” she said. Joy Milne described the scent she noticed in her husband as a “musk” aroma, unlike her normal scent. After her husband’s death, Ms. Milne devoted herself to Parkinson’s research.
ODOR IS UNDERSTANDED FROM THE SCALE
Joy Milne, who can smell Parkinson’s, has helped scientists come up with a test that detects the disease. Researchers say Parkinson’s disease can be identified within three minutes of someone’s neck. Sebums taken from the neck and back of the patients with a cotton swab were analyzed. The research found more than 4,000 unique compounds in the samples, 500 of which differed between Parkinson’s patients and the control group. No definitive testing for the disease had been done before, doctors instead made a diagnosis based on someone’s symptoms and medical history.
UNDERSTANDING PARKINSON PATIENTS WHILE WALKING ON THE ROAD
Better testing and early detection can help patients preserve brain cell function, reduce jerky movements and slow the disease. Ms. Milne is working with scientists around the world to see if she can smell cancer and other diseases like tuberculosis (TB). She said she can sometimes smell Parkinson’s patients when they walk in the supermarket or on the street, but can’t be told by medical ethicists to them.
“I FEEL MYSELF LUCKY”
Ms. Milne, who has hereditary hyperosmia – a high sensitivity to smells – said: “The night before my husband died, I promised to help with Parkinson’s research until there was a test for this cruel disease. I feel lucky to have the ability to help people who are diagnosed early.”