The Sunday Read: ‘The Woman Who Could Smell Parkinson’s’
17Digest
This podcast delves into the fascinating world of smell and its connection to Parkinson's disease. It begins by introducing the concept of smell as a powerful sense, highlighting its role in memory and animal migration. The podcast then focuses on Joy Milne, a woman with an exceptional sense of smell who discovered she could detect Parkinson's disease years before a diagnosis. The story follows Joy's journey, from her initial discovery to the scientific investigation that confirmed her ability. The podcast explores the historical significance of smell in medicine, discussing the miasma theory and the use of odor for diagnosis. It also examines the potential for using sebum analysis to screen for Parkinson's and the ethical considerations surrounding early diagnosis. The podcast concludes by reflecting on the impact of Joy's discovery on Parkinson's research and the future of smell in medicine.
Outlines
The Power of Smell: A Sensory Journey and Joy Milne's Discovery
This chapter introduces the concept of smell as a powerful sense, highlighting its connection to memory and its role in guiding animals during migrations. It also discusses the often-overlooked nature of smell and its potential for medical diagnosis. It then introduces Joy Milne, a woman with an extraordinary sense of smell who discovered she could detect Parkinson's disease years before a diagnosis.
Joy Milne: The Woman Who Could Smell Parkinson's
This chapter explores Joy Milne's life, her husband's journey with Parkinson's, and the scientific investigation into her ability to detect the disease through smell. It details the initial skepticism from scientists and the pilot study that confirmed her ability.
The History of Smell in Medicine and Joy's Impact
This chapter delves into the historical significance of smell in medicine, discussing the miasma theory of disease and the use of odor for diagnosis. It explores the role of smell in detecting various illnesses, including tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and cancer. It then highlights the impact of Joy's discovery on the Parkinson's research community and the ongoing research into the chemical signature of the smell.
The Smell Taboo and the Search for Early Diagnosis
This chapter discusses the social and scientific stigma surrounding smell and its implications for Joy's discovery. It explores the potential for using sebum analysis to screen for Parkinson's and the ethical considerations surrounding early diagnosis.
Joy's Life and the Future of Smell in Medicine
This chapter concludes the story by revisiting Joy's life and her ongoing advocacy for Parkinson's research. It reflects on the potential for sebum analysis to revolutionize early diagnosis and the ethical implications of knowing one's future. It also discusses the potential for smell to play a more significant role in medical diagnosis in the future.
Keywords
Parkinson's disease
A neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement, coordination, and other bodily functions. It is characterized by tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, and postural instability.
Hypersmia
An abnormally heightened sense of smell, often described as "super smelling." It can be caused by various factors, including genetics, brain structure, and environmental exposure.
Sebum
An oily substance secreted by the skin's sebaceous glands. It helps to lubricate and protect the skin, but it can also be a source of information about disease.
Miasma theory
A historical theory of disease that attributed illness to bad air or noxious odors. It was prevalent until the late 19th century and influenced early medical practices.
Olfactory function
The sense of smell, which is mediated by the olfactory system, a complex network of cells and structures in the nose and brain. It plays a crucial role in detecting and identifying odors.
Early diagnosis
The identification of a disease in its early stages, before symptoms become severe. It is often crucial for effective treatment and improving patient outcomes.
Informed consent
A legal and ethical principle that requires patients to be fully informed about the risks and benefits of medical procedures before making a decision. It ensures that patients have the autonomy to make choices about their own healthcare.
Q&A
What is Joy Milne's extraordinary ability?
Joy Milne has an extraordinary sense of smell that allows her to detect Parkinson's disease years before a diagnosis. She can smell a distinctive odor associated with the disease, which she first noticed on her husband.
How did Joy's discovery lead to scientific research?
Joy shared her discovery with scientists, who initially were skeptical. However, a pilot study confirmed her ability to identify Parkinson's patients by smell, leading to further research into the chemical components of the odor.
What are the potential implications of Joy's discovery for Parkinson's diagnosis?
Joy's discovery has opened up new avenues for early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Researchers are working to develop a sebum-based test that could identify the disease in its early stages, potentially leading to more effective treatments and improved outcomes for patients.
What are the ethical considerations surrounding early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease?
While early diagnosis can be beneficial for treatment, it also raises ethical questions about the implications of knowing one's future. Some people may prefer not to know about a potential diagnosis, while others may find it empowering to take proactive steps to manage their health.
What is the future of smell in medicine?
Joy's story highlights the potential for smell to play a more significant role in medical diagnosis. As research continues, we may see the development of new diagnostic tools that utilize olfactory information, potentially revolutionizing the way we detect and treat various diseases.
Show Notes
Les Milne was a consultant anesthesiologist, and his wife, Joy, typically found that he came home smelling of anesthetics, antiseptics and blood. But he returned one August evening in 1982, shortly after his 32nd birthday, smelling of something new and distinctly unsavory, of some thick must. From then on, the odor never ceased, though neither Les nor almost anyone but his wife could detect it. For Joy, even a small shift in her husband’s aroma might have been cause for distress, but his scent now seemed to have changed fundamentally, as if replaced by that of someone else.
Les began to change in other ways, however, and soon the smell came to seem almost trivial. It was as if his personality had shifted. Les had rather suddenly become detached, ill-tempered, apathetic. It was not until much later that he would be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The scent Joy had noticed would become a possible solution for earlier diagnosis.
Table of contents
United States
This podcast is really functional and I didn’t use to know about this desease but now I’m using to know anymore