Scientists have made a major breakthrough in detecting Parkinson’s disease early—possibly up to seven years before any symptoms show.
A new study from The University of Manchester has found that analyzing a person’s skin oil, or sebum, could help identify early signs of the disease using a simple, non-invasive swab.
The research, published in npj Parkinson’s Disease, shows that Parkinson’s leaves behind a unique chemical signature in sebum, the oily substance our skin naturally produces.
These chemical compounds, or “volatiles,” can be analyzed with advanced lab equipment to spot markers of the disease, even before physical symptoms such as tremors begin.
The research team used a technique called Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) to study skin swabs from people with Parkinson’s, healthy individuals, and people with a sleep condition called isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (iRBD), which is considered a strong early warning sign for Parkinson’s.
They found that people with iRBD already had a different chemical profile in their sebum—somewhere between healthy individuals and those with full Parkinson’s—suggesting the disease may start changing the body years before symptoms are noticeable.
This line of research was originally inspired by Joy Milne, a woman with a rare condition known as hyperosmia, which gives her an extremely sensitive sense of smell.
She noticed a specific odor on her late husband years before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
Her unique ability helped guide the scientists in exploring sebum as a source of diagnostic information. Joy could even distinguish between swabs from people with iRBD and those with Parkinson’s—and she correctly identified two people who later went on to receive a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Professor Perdita Barran, one of the lead researchers, called the findings a major step forward. “This is the first time a molecular test has shown promise for detecting Parkinson’s at such an early stage,” she said.
“With this kind of test, doctors could one day diagnose people before symptoms begin, allowing earlier care and better outcomes.”
In total, the study looked at skin swabs from over 80 people. Researchers identified 55 key chemical differences in the sebum samples that could help distinguish between those with and without the disease.
They also found that patterns in the chemical markers could track how the disease progresses over time, potentially helping tailor treatments in the future.
Sebum samples are easy to collect from areas like the face or upper back, and unlike blood, they don’t need cold storage—making the test inexpensive and ideal for routine use.
The researchers are continuing to improve the test and are also interested in hearing from other people with highly sensitive senses of smell.
Their goal is to bring this non-invasive screening tool into clinics to help patients receive earlier diagnosis, track disease progression, and get better care.
Source: University of Manchester.
