Dogs trained by the UK charity Medical Detection Dogs have successfully detected Parkinson’s disease (PD) by scent, according to new research published in The Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. The study, carried out in partnership with the Universities of Bristol and Manchester, explored the ability of dogs to identify the disease using skin swabs.
Two dogs, Golden Retriever Bumper and Black Labrador Peanut, were trained to distinguish between sebum samples taken from individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s and those without. In double-blind testing, the dogs achieved a sensitivity of up to 80% and specificity of up to 98%. The dogs were also able to detect PD in patients with other health conditions.
Over 200 samples were used to train the dogs. The dogs were presented with the samples on a stand system and rewarded for correctly identifying positive samples and ignoring negative ones. During double-blind trials, sample lines were reversed and re-presented if a decision was not reached, ensuring all samples were tested.
Parkinson’s currently has no definitive early diagnostic test, and symptoms may not become persistent until up to 20 years after initial onset. Researchers believe identifying reliable biomarkers could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Claire Guest, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of Medical Detection Dogs, 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.”
Dr Nicola Rooney, Associate Professor at the University of Bristol’s Veterinary School and lead author, added, “Identifying diagnostic biomarkers of PD, particularly those that may predict development or help diagnose disease earlier is the subject of much ongoing research. The dogs in this study achieved high sensitivity and specificity and showed there is an olfactory signature distinct to patients with the disease.
“Sensitivity levels of 70% and 80% are well above chance and I believe that dogs could help us to develop a quick non-invasive and cost-effective method to identify patients with Parkinson’s disease.”
