Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – Recent research has made encouraging strides toward the production of a non-invasive method to detect early indicators of Parkinson’s disease—up to seven years prior to the onset of physical symptoms—by looking into the chemical composition of skin.
Appearing recently in the journal npj Parkinson’s Disease, the study highlights that certain compounds, known as ‘volatiles,’ found in sebum—the oily secretion of the skin that has crucial biomarkers that could help in marking Parkinson’s at its earliest stage.
Researchers at The University of Manchester, engaged in a partnership with Salford Royal NHS Trust and the Medical University of Innsbruck, employed a method called Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) to analyse skin swabs. The study utilised participants diagnosed with Parkinson’s, healthy controls, and individuals with isolated REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (iRBD)—a sleep issue considered a precursor to Parkinson’s.
The study showed that individuals with iRBD exhibited unique chemical patterns in their sebum that were distinguishable from those of healthy participants, though not as advanced as those observed in people with diagnosed Parkinson’s. These results reinforce the idea that the disease is initiated leaving detectable biological signatures long before motor symptoms manifest.
Joy Milne – famously known as the “super smeller” whose unique sense of smell sparked this line of research – was also able to tell apart scent samples taken from individuals with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) and those from healthy controls and Parkinson’s patients. Interestingly, she detected the scent signatures of both conditions in two samples from iRBD participants who were later confirmed to have Parkinson’s during follow-up medical visits.
Professor Perdita Barran, an expert in Mass Spectrometry at The University of Manchester, indicated that this is the first research to showcase a molecular-based method for diagnosing Parkinson’s at its early or prodromal stages. She further indicated that it moves us closer to a future where a straightforward, non-invasive skin swab might help identify individuals at risk before any visible symptoms emerge, enabling earlier treatment and potentially better outcomes.
The research included over 80 volunteers: 46 diagnosed with Parkinson’s, 28 healthy controls, and nine with iRBD. The team identified 55 notable chemical markers in sebum that differed among these groups. People with iRBD tended to show marker levels that were intermediate between healthy participants and those with Parkinson’s, supporting the idea that early detection is possible.
Dr Drupad Trivedi, a researcher at The University of Manchester, formed a model based on these biomarkers via a longitudinal study. He took skin samples from Parkinson’s patients over a span of three years and marked trends that suggest this method could also assist in monitoring the disease progression, which may lead to more specific treatments and better care for patients.
Researchers of the study pointed out that sebum can be conveniently gathered using gauze swabs from areas like the face or upper back, making it well-suited for non-invasive, routine testing and ongoing monitoring. Earlier studies by the researchers have also demonstrated that sebum doesn’t require cold storage like other bodily fluids such as blood, which helps lower storage and transportation costs.
This line of research was sparked by Joy Milne, who noticed a distinct smell in people with Parkinson’s disease. Her discovery led scientists at The University of Manchester to investigate sebum as a potential source of diagnostic indicators.
Dr Drupad Trivedi,who is a Lecturer in Analytical Measurement Sciences at The University of Manchester, says “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.”
