New method can diagnose Parkinson’s from skin swabs in 3 minutes

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In a study from The University of Manchester, scientists found a new method to detect Parkinson’s disease has been determined by analyzing sebum with mass spectrometry.

They found that there are lipids of high molecular weight that are substantially more active in people suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

In the study, the researchers tested a sample group of 79 people with Parkinson’s compared with a healthy control group of 71 people.

They used cotton swabs to sample people and identify the compounds present with mass spectrometry.

The method developed involves paper spray ionization mass spectrometry combined with ion mobility separation and can be performed in as little as three minutes from swab to results.

One researcher discovered that she could distinguish PD in individuals from a distinct body odor before clinical symptoms occur.

The researcher has hereditary Hyperosmia—a heightened sensitivity to smells—which has been exploited to find that Parkinson’s has a distinct odor that is strongest where sebum collects on patient’s backs and is less often washed away.

Sebum is an oily secretion from sebaceous glands under the skin which are connected to the endocrine system.

The scientists found that sebum can be used as a diagnostic biofluid, which is rich in hydrophobic endogenous metabolites.

Altered sebum production is a well-recognized feature of Parkinson’s.

The sampling procedure they have developed is simple and non-invasive; sebum is collected in clinics from the upper back of patients and posted in the regular mail to the lab.

The team says in the new tech, the sebum is transferred to filter paper from a sampling swab, and they then cut this to a triangle, add a drop of solvent, apply a voltage and this transfers compounds from the sebum into the mass spectrometer.

When they do this, they find more than 4,000 unique compounds of which 500 are different between people with PD compared to healthy people.

The team now sees this as a major step forward toward a clinical method for confirmatory diagnosis of Parkinson’s, for which to date there is no diagnostic test based on biomarkers.

If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies about where does Parkinson’s disease start, and dancing with music can halt most debilitating Parkinson’s symptoms.

For more information about Parkinson’s disease, please see recent studies about this stuff in berries may prevent and reverse Parkinson’s disease, and results showing eye tests could predict Parkinson’s disease 18 months ahead.

The study was conducted by Professor Perdita Barran et al and published in the JACS Au.

Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.