The Smell Of Sickness

[AlchoPwn]

Joy Milne was described as being "somewhere between a human and a dog" in terms of her sense of smell, in the BBC documentary.
If a search-dog has an ability that's notionally 10,000 times better than a conventional human, and Joy is able to detect the 10 specific molecules that indicate Parkinson's, that may place her in the 1,000-2,000 better-than-average range (or even higher) She also has the training of having been a fully-qualified nurse, and is an excellent communicator.

No doubt once we have improved the electronic nose, it could become an important medical tool https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_nose

 

[Yithian]

Short Version:
Joe Milne from Scotland can smell Parkinson's Disease. Given twelve shirts, six from Parkinson's patients and six from the control group, she correctly distinguished eleven of the twelve as either having or not having the disease. Eight months later the one individual that she 'incorrectly' assigned to the Parkinson's group was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Long Version:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-34583642

Update with slightly more technical detail:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-42252411

Beyond the scope of this thread, but an individuals gait/posture can also function as a diagnostic tool:

 

[escargot]

I seem to remember reading some years ago about a company who were developing a machine for diagnostically 'sniffing out' illness in patients. The company were based in my home town and their head office was on a business park where I used to walk my dogs.

 

[JamesWhitehead]

their head office was on a business park where I used to walk my dogs.

"I say! Is that a bad case of anal fistula?"
"No, Professor. Just that bloody woman's dogs again!" :doggy:

 

[escargot]

"I say! Is that a bad case of anal fistula?"
"No, Professor. Just that bloody woman's dogs again!" :doggy:

UNCANNILY accurate.

 

[maximus otter]

A new Parkinson’s test has been developed after scientists were able to harness the power of a woman who can sniff out the disease.

The test has been years in the making after researchers at Manchester University realised that Joy Milne of Perth, Scotland, could smell the condition.

The academics first began to believe Parkinson's might have a discernible odour when Mrs Milne claimed she detected a change in the odour of her husband, Les, six years before he was diagnosed with the condition.

Mrs Milne, 72, said that her husband’s smell changed subtly to a "musky" aroma years before any difficulty with movement started to emerge. Mr Milne died in 2015 aged 65.

When researchers conducted tests with Mrs Milne, they found she was able to identify people living with Parkinson's from people without the condition just by smelling the t-shirts they had worn.

Now, the academics at the University of Manchester have made a breakthrough by developing a test which can identify people with the condition by using a simple cotton bud run along the back of the neck.

Researchers can examine the sample to identify molecules linked to the condition to help diagnose whether someone has the disease.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/09/07/new-test-parkinsons-developed-woman-sniffed-disease/

maximus otter

 

[PeteS]

A new Parkinson’s test has been developed after scientists were able to harness the power of a woman who can sniff out the disease.

The test has been years in the making after researchers at Manchester University realised that Joy Milne of Perth, Scotland, could smell the condition.

The academics first began to believe Parkinson's might have a discernible odour when Mrs Milne claimed she detected a change in the odour of her husband, Les, six years before he was diagnosed with the condition.

Mrs Milne, 72, said that her husband’s smell changed subtly to a "musky" aroma years before any difficulty with movement started to emerge. Mr Milne died in 2015 aged 65.

When researchers conducted tests with Mrs Milne, they found she was able to identify people living with Parkinson's from people without the condition just by smelling the t-shirts they had worn.

Now, the academics at the University of Manchester have made a breakthrough by developing a test which can identify people with the condition by using a simple cotton bud run along the back of the neck.

Researchers can examine the sample to identify molecules linked to the condition to help diagnose whether someone has the disease.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/09/07/new-test-parkinsons-developed-woman-sniffed-disease/

maximus otter

My soon to be daughter in law is involved on the periphery of this.

 

[Min Bannister]

A new Parkinson’s test has been developed after scientists were able to harness the power of a woman who can sniff out the disease.

The test has been years in the making after researchers at Manchester University realised that Joy Milne of Perth, Scotland, could smell the condition.

The academics first began to believe Parkinson's might have a discernible odour when Mrs Milne claimed she detected a change in the odour of her husband, Les, six years before he was diagnosed with the condition.

Mrs Milne, 72, said that her husband’s smell changed subtly to a "musky" aroma years before any difficulty with movement started to emerge. Mr Milne died in 2015 aged 65.

When researchers conducted tests with Mrs Milne, they found she was able to identify people living with Parkinson's from people without the condition just by smelling the t-shirts they had worn.

Now, the academics at the University of Manchester have made a breakthrough by developing a test which can identify people with the condition by using a simple cotton bud run along the back of the neck.

Researchers can examine the sample to identify molecules linked to the condition to help diagnose whether someone has the disease.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/09/07/new-test-parkinsons-developed-woman-sniffed-disease/

maximus otter

I was at a conference a wee while ago with Professor Barran who gave a talk about this. It is a brilliant piece of work.