When it comes to developing treatments and eventual cures for diseases, being able to diagnose a condition early and accurately makes a huge difference – and scientists have now developed a quick, reliable method of identifying people with Parkinson’s disease.
After a skin swab, the test can be completed in just 3 minutes. The chemical mixture of sebum is the natural oil that the skin produces. Previously linkedParkinson’s.
At the moment, there’s no conclusive test for Parkinson’s disease – specialists look at symptoms, medical history, the results of a lengthy physical examination, and in some cases, a brain scan to diagnose the condition.
“This test could dramatically improve the management and diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease patients,” says neurologist Monty SilverdaleFrom the University of Manchester, UK.
The new test builds upon the research done by researchers Joy Milne is a Scottish womanWho is hereditary? hyperosmia – a heightened sensitivity to smells.
Milne noticed her husband’s musky smell years before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
The team discovered sebum which is linked with the endocrine systems and keeps the skin moisturized. The same researchers were also involved in the discovery of sebum back in 2019. How the chemical mixture of sebum was changedAn individual with Parkinson’s disease.
Now, we have a test that uses this shift in biomarkers. A clinic will take swabs and send them off to a laboratory for analysis. Mass spectrometryAnalysis to determine their molecular makeup. Samples from 79 Parkinson’s sufferers were compared to those from 71 healthy people.
“This allows us to discover more than 4,000 unique compounds, of which 500 are distinct between Parkinson’s patients and the control participants.” says chemist Depanjan SarkarFrom the University of Manchester
Positive signs include the fact that the test is noninvasive and generates results quickly. However, scientists need to prove that they are able to scale up the procedure and make it work outside of laboratory conditions.
Further down the line, the researchers say that other diseases and conditions could be diagnosed through an analysis of sebum – though as yet it’s not fully clear why the onset of Parkinson’s should cause these changes in the production of the fluid.
Parkinson’s disease is currently being treated The fastest growingThere is a neurological disease, and it is growing. Continue reading. Although scientists are trying to find a cure for this disease, there are many ways to help. It is important to slow it down and manage it – and that’s where an early diagnosis can be so important.
“These results are very exciting and will help us make a Parkinson’s diagnostic test that can be used in clinic.” Perdita Baran, chemistFrom the University of Manchester
The results of the research were published in Journal of the American Chemical Society.
