We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Skin Swabs Could Detect Parkinson’s Years Before Symptoms Appear

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 17 Jul 2025

Parkinson’s disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose in its early stages, as motor symptoms do not appear until later in the progression of the disease. More...

The ability to detect the disease up to seven years before symptoms emerge would be transformative, allowing for earlier interventions and improved outcomes. Traditional diagnostic methods do not identify Parkinson’s until physical symptoms manifest, leaving patients at a disadvantage. However, recent research has shown that the chemical composition of skin, specifically the sebum produced by the skin, contains biomarkers that may reveal signs of Parkinson’s disease in its earliest stages. Now, researchers have developed a novel non-invasive sampling method to detect these biomarkers, opening the door to earlier diagnosis of Parkinson’s.

Researchers at The University of Manchester (Manchester, UK) along with collaborators used a technique known as Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) to analyze skin swabs from participants with Parkinson’s disease, healthy controls, and individuals with isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (iRBD), a condition often seen as an early warning sign of Parkinson’s. By analyzing the chemical profiles of the sebum, they were able to identify distinct biomarkers in individuals with iRBD, who had chemical profiles different from healthy controls but less pronounced than those with Parkinson’s. This technique revealed that Parkinson’s disease leaves a detectable trace on the body long before physical symptoms appear.

The findings of this study, published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, showed that people with iRBD exhibited chemical profiles in their sebum that were distinct from healthy individuals, supporting the idea that Parkinson’s can be detected early. The team also discovered that this non-invasive method could be used to track the progression of Parkinson’s disease, offering the potential for regular monitoring and improved treatment outcomes. The results were validated when a trained "super smeller" was able to distinguish between Parkinson’s and iRBD in skin swabs. The next step in the research is to refine this method to make it a practical tool for clinical use, with further studies aimed at expanding its applications for other diseases.’

“This is the first study to demonstrate a molecular diagnostic method for Parkinson’s disease at the prodromal or early stage,” said Professor Perdita Barran, Professor of Mass Spectrometry at The University of Manchester. “It brings us one step closer to a future where a simple, non-invasive skin swab could help identify people at risk before symptoms arise allowing for earlier intervention and improved outcomes.”

Related Links:
University of Manchester


New
Gold Member
Automated MALDI-TOF MS System
EXS 3000
Portable Electronic Pipette
Mini 96
Capillary Blood Collection Tube
IMPROMINI M3
ESR Analyzer
TEST1 2.0
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: New evidence shows viscoelastic testing can improve assessment of blood clotting during postpartum hemorrhage (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Viscoelastic Testing Could Improve Treatment of Maternal Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage, severe bleeding after childbirth, remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide, yet many of these deaths are preventable. Standard care can be hindered by delays... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The CloneSeq-SV approach can allow researchers to study how cells within high-grade serous ovarian cancer change over time (Photo courtesy of MSK)

Blood Test Tracks Treatment Resistance in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage because it spreads microscopically throughout the abdomen, and although initial surgery and chemotherapy can work, most... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The collaboration aims to improve access to Hb variant testing with the Gazelle POC diagnostic platform (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

Terumo BCT and Hemex Health Collaborate to Improve Access to Testing for Hemoglobin Disorders

Millions of people worldwide living with sickle cell disease and other hemoglobin disorders experience delayed diagnosis and limited access to effective care, particularly in regions where testing is scarce.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.