Medically reviewed by Susan W. Lee, DO - Written by Carly Vandergriendt - Updated on February 7, 2024
Key takeaways
- Parkinson’s disease can cause an increase in sebum production, leading to a particular scent that is usually not strong enough for most people to detect.
- Researchers are exploring whether the unique composition of sebum in individuals with Parkinson’s could serve as a biomarker for early detection using specialized devices and artificial intelligence.
- A diminished sense of smell is common in Parkinson’s, potentially making those with the condition less aware of changes in their own body odor.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive brain condition that affects movement. People with PD experience tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.
New research suggests that people with PD might also have a particular smell. That said, it’s not something the average person is likely to notice.
This article reviews what we know about how Parkinson’s affects your body odor and sense of smell.
Do people with Parkinson’s have a particular scent?
Everyone has a scent, whether or not they have Parkinson’s. Factors such as genes, food, and hormones determine your distinctive smell.
Health conditions can also influence how you smell. Among people with Parkinson’s, changes in scent are linked to an increased production of sebum, an oily substance secreted from the sebaceous glands in the skin.
However, it’s not a scent that most people would notice. Authors of a 2019 review note that a person with a heightened sense of smell detected the PD odor only recently.
Can you detect Parkinson’s disease by smelling it?
Most people cannot detect Parkinson’s disease by smelling it. Although PD is linked to a specific scent, it’s not a smell the average person is likely to notice.
People with extreme sensitivity to smell, known as hyperosmia, are more likely to notice the PD smell.
Scent as a potential biomarker
Sebum may be a biomarker for PD. So, testing sebum could be a way of showing that someone has Parkinson’s.
A few studies are investigating the role of sebum in diagnosing PD. For example, the authors of a 2021 study compared the biochemical makeup of sebum from people with PD and a control group.
They reported significant differences between the two groups and suggested that evaluating sebum profiles might be a noninvasive way to test for PD.
Another 2022 study involved the development of a smelling device that uses artificial intelligence to detect the PD scent in a sebum sample. Researchers concluded that doctors might be able to use their system alongside other diagnostic tests to catch early stage PD.
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