Archive · 18 Jul 2025
Super Smeller Helps Develop Early Parkinson's Disease Test
Joy Milne, known for her exceptional sense of smell, could detect her husband's Parkinson's disease years before it was diagnosed.
She helped scientists create a test that uses a skin swab to find early signs of Parkinson's by detecting a unique smell in skin oil.
This test could potentially allow people to manage Parkinson's symptoms early.
The disease affects movement and can impact other areas like mental health.
This condition becomes more likely with age.
Joy Milne, a "super smeller", detected her husband's Parkinson's disease a decade before diagnosis.
Milne played a key role in developing a skin swab test to detect Parkinson's early.
The test identifies a unique chemical signature in sebum, the skin's oily substance.
Trials for the test began in 2022 and the swab is now available.
Parkinson's primarily affects movement but can also impact mental health.
- Who
- Joy Milne, a "super smeller," helped develop the test and her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's.
- What
- A skin swab test has been developed to detect Parkinson's disease early.
- When
- Trials for the test started in 2022, and it is now available.
- Where
- The test was developed in partnership with the University of Manchester, and Salford Royal NHS Trust.
- Why
- The test aims to allow for earlier management of Parkinson's before quality of life is significantly affected.
- Name
- Joy Milne
- Condition
- Parkinson's Disease
- Milne's Diagnosis
- Detected husband's condition before diagnosis
- Test Type
- Skin swab
- Test Purpose
- Early detection of Parkinson's
- Age of Onset (Avg.)
- 60 years old