A groundbreaking study reveals that specially trained dogs can accurately detect Parkinson’s disease by sniffing skin swabs, opening the door to a faster and easier diagnostic test for this debilitating neurological disorder.

Researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Manchester, working with UK charity Medical Detection Dogs, trained two dogs over nearly a year to distinguish between the scent of skin oils (sebum) from Parkinson’s patients and healthy individuals. The results were impressive — the dogs correctly identified Parkinson’s patients 80% of the time and non-patients over 90%.

Parkinson’s disease, which currently lacks a definitive early diagnostic test, may have a unique olfactory signature. This discovery offers hope for a simple, non-invasive screening method using skin swabs, which could enable earlier detection and treatment.

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“This study adds to growing evidence that skin swabs can help diagnose Parkinson’s disease, offering a faster and more accessible method for early detection,” said Perdita Barran, a lead researcher and professor at the University of Manchester.

Lead author Nicola Rooney of the University of Bristol emphasized, “The dogs showed high sensitivity and specificity, confirming there’s a distinct smell linked to Parkinson’s patients. This breakthrough could revolutionize how we identify the disease.”

With canine noses leading the way, the future might hold a quick, cost-effective test for Parkinson’s—no needles or scans needed.

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