Parkinson’s breakthrough can diagnose disease from skin swabs in 3 minutes

A new method to detect Parkinson's disease has been determined by analysing sebum with mass spectrometry. The study, published today in the Journal of the American Chemical Society , have found that there are lipids of high molecular weight that are substantially more active in people suffering from Parkinson's disease. The researchers from The University of Manchester used cotton swabs to sample people and identify the compounds present with mass spectrometry. The method developed involves paper spray ionisation mass spectrometry combined with ion mobility separation and can be performed in as little as 3 mins from swab to results. Professor Perdita Barran at The University of Manchester, who led the research said: "We are tremendously excited by these results which take us closer to making a diagnostic test for Parkinson's Disease that could be used in clinic." The research used a sample group of 79 people with Parkinson's compared with a heathy control group of 71 people. The study has arisen from the observation of Joy Milne, who discovered that she can distinguish PD in individuals from a distinct body odour before clinical symptoms occur. Joy has hereditary Hyperosmia - a heightened sensitivity to smells - which has been exploited to find that Parkinson's has a distinct odour which is strongest where sebum collects on patient's backs and is less often washed away.