Imagine being able to detect a disease just by its scent. For one woman, this extraordinary ability turned out to be life-changing—not just for her but for the medical community as well. Joy Milne, a retired nurse from Scotland, discovered that she could smell Parkinson’s disease years before her husband was diagnosed. What started as an unusual observation eventually led to groundbreaking research into early detection methods. But what exactly did she smell, and how did this discovery impact Parkinson’s research? Let’s explore this fascinating story.
A Subtle Yet Unmistakable Scent
Joy Milne first noticed something different about her husband, Les, long before doctors confirmed he had Parkinson’s. She described the scent as a musky, slightly oily aroma that seemed to cling to his skin, even after showering. At first, she thought it was just a change in his personal scent due to aging, but over time, she realized it was something more.
Years later, when Les was officially diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Joy attended a support group meeting and noticed that other people with the condition carried the same distinct smell. It was then that she made the connection—she had smelled Parkinson’s on her husband years before any symptoms appeared.
How Her Unique Ability Helped Science
When Joy shared her observations with doctors and researchers, they were initially skeptical. But her claims were put to the test when scientists at the University of Manchester decided to investigate. They gave her a set of T-shirts—some worn by people with Parkinson’s and some by those without. She correctly identified every single one, even detecting the disease in a person who had not yet been diagnosed.
When asked to describe the scent she noticed on her husband, Milne struggled to put it into words. “It’s hard to describe,” she said. “It’s like a combination of musty, earthy, and slightly sweet. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s definitely different.” Her husband, Jim, corroborated her description, adding that the scent was “distinctive” and “lingering.”
This remarkable ability led to further research into whether Parkinson’s disease produces unique chemical compounds that can be identified through smell. Scientists have since discovered that people with Parkinson’s release a specific combination of molecules through their skin, which could be used to develop a non-invasive diagnostic test.