Woman’s Skill in Sensing Parkinson’s Disease Aids Revolutionary Medical Research
Title: Joy Milne: The Woman Who Can Detect Parkinson’s Disease Through Smell—and May Pave the Way for Early Diagnosis
In the world of medical enigmas and biological wonders, few tales are as captivating as that of Joy Milne, a 75-year-old woman from Scotland blessed with a remarkable sense of smell. Although Milne is retired from her nursing career and is not a physician or a researcher, her olfactory abilities are emerging as a significant advancement in the early identification of Parkinson’s disease.
Owing to an unusual condition known as hyperosmia, which amplifies her sense of smell, Milne can identify specific health issues just by recognizing their distinct odors. Most notably, she has demonstrated the capability to sense Parkinson’s long before any clinical signs manifest. This rare talent has led to a pioneering research initiative focused on reshaping how Parkinson’s is detected.
How It All Started
Milne first became aware of her exceptional sense of smell at the tender age of six. After mentioning to her grandmother that her classmates had a particular odor, she discovered that heightened olfaction was a family trait. However, it took many years for this extraordinary gift to find its most significant use.
The pivotal moment occurred when Milne’s husband, Les Milne, began to emit an unusual musky fragrance. Though Les seemed healthy, Milne felt something was amiss. Years later, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at only 45. It was during this time that she began to link her observations. At a support group meeting years afterward, she detected the same specific scent on a different person—a stranger to her.
This realization that the “Parkinson’s scent” could act as a diagnostic tool prompted her to approach scientists, eager to share her insights for the benefit of others.
From Narrative to Scientific Inquiry
In 2013, Milne met with Professor Perdita Barran, a chemist and researcher at the University of Manchester. Together, they launched a pilot study to examine whether Milne could accurately distinguish between individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease based solely on their smell.
The experiment involved T-shirts worn overnight by a set of healthy individuals and another set by those diagnosed with Parkinson’s. With remarkable accuracy, Milne successfully identified the shirts worn by individuals with Parkinson’s—even correctly identifying one that had been misclassified. Months later, the person whose shirt she had identified was officially diagnosed, further validating her extraordinary skill.
What Science Has to Say
Milne’s unique abilities have ignited a paradigm shift in how Parkinson’s diagnostics are approached. She is capable of sensing what is not yet measurable by doctors, providing insights into preclinical detection.
In collaboration with ongoing research funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Milne and Barran are working to transform her distinct skill into a reproducible, accessible diagnostic tool—a swab-based test. This test involves capturing sebum, an oily substance produced by the skin, particularly from the forehead and upper back, areas known to have increased sebum production in those with Parkinson’s.
The patient’s sebum is analyzed using mass spectrometry to pinpoint volatile compounds associated with Parkinson’s. The concept is that the disease induces biochemical alterations that modify body odor—changes Milne can already detect with remarkable accuracy. Researchers are striving to develop methods—be they technological or biological, potentially including trained dogs—that can recognize these same scent markers.
A Silent Epidemic
The importance of this work cannot be overstated: Parkinson’s disease is the fastest-increasing neurological disorder globally and the second most prevalent neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer’s. The disease impacts movement, balance, coordination, and eventually cognitive function. By the time Parkinson’s is typically diagnosed—often through motor symptoms like tremors and rigidity—an estimated 60% to 80% of the brain’s dopamine-producing neurons have already been lost.
Discovering a method for earlier diagnosis could lead to interventions that significantly slow—if not ultimately halt—the progression of the disease.
Beyond Parkinson’s: A Unique Sensibility for Other Conditions
Parkinson’s is not the sole disease that Joy Milne claims she can detect. She asserts that various medical conditions emit distinct odors. For example, she can identify when someone’s diabetes is poorly managed or if a patient is recovering from surgery. She even recalls entering a hospital ward and immediately recognizing the odor associated with tuberculosis. “It’s not musky like Parkinson’s,” she explains. “It has more of an oily biscuit scent.”
Implications for Tomorrow
Joy Milne’s narrative raises significant considerations regarding the future of diagnosis, not only for Parkinson’s but across a diverse array of illnesses. Her exceptional olfactory capability has demonstrated that the human body begins to undergo changes—subtle yet detectable—long before a disease manifests through conventional symptoms.
Her collaboration with researchers illustrates how unconventional insights can merge with scientific integrity to yield groundbreaking results. With support from institutions like The