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Doctors find Parkinson's markers by looking inside ears | Analysis of ear wax to detect Parkinson's Disease would be a cheap, non-invasive way to detect the condition in its early stages


Catching the onset of Parkinson's Disease early can be critical to slowing the disease's progression and improving a patient's life. A new test that uses nothing more than a sample of someone's ear wax is set to do exactly that.

In 2021, a team of scientists found 10 biomarkers that were heightened or lowered in patients with Parkinson's by analyzing sebum collected with non-invasive skin swabs. After analyzing the wax using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, they identified four different volatile organic compounds (VOC) that were significantly lower in Parkinson's patients than in those without the condition. The mountains and beaches of central Portugal, where he now lives with his wife and two giant poodles, offer the perfect foil for way too much screen time.

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