This is how a dog's sense of smell could help fight Parkinson's disease.

Dogs' extraordinary sense of smell not only allows them to detect drugs, explosives, or missing people. Recently, science has begun to explore its potential in the medical field. particularly in the early identification of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.

This disease, which affects the nervous system and causes symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, and difficulty moving, is difficult to diagnose in its early stages. However, new studies have revealed that dogs can detect Parkinson's even before clinical symptoms appear.

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Parkinson's disease is linked to changes in the body's production of certain chemicals. These alterations can generate volatile compounds that are released through the skin and are imperceptible to humans, but not to the keen sense of smell in dogs.

Researchers in various countries have trained dogs to identify these specific odors. In tests, some dogs were able to recognize with remarkable accuracy samples from people with Parkinson's disease versus those without, based solely on their body scent.

Real cases that inspired the research

One of the most well-known cases that prompted this line of study was that of Joy Milne, a Scottish woman who claimed to have detected a "change in her husband's scent" years before he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. Her story motivated scientists at the University of Manchester to investigate this lead. To their surprise, they confirmed that there was indeed a detectable difference in the scent of patients with this disease.

Since then, research using trained dogs has corroborated these observations. Its success rate has been so high that it is already considered a promising method for developing future non-invasive tests.

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Although the use of dogs in medical diagnoses is not yet common in clinics or hospitals, their participation in scientific research could pave the way for the development of electronic devices or sensors inspired by their sense of smell. The goal would be to develop tools that, by mimicking the abilities of dogs, detect Parkinson's early and accurately, facilitating more effective treatment.

Furthermore, early detection can make a significant difference in patients' quality of life, allowing for the initiation of therapies before symptoms worsen.

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