- Researchers have developed a new system that could enable early detection of Parkinson's disease by analysing ear wax.
- The method identifies specific volatile organic compounds in sebum, the main ingredient of ear wax, which are altered in individuals with Parkinson's.
- Scientists swabbed the ear canals of 209 participants and identified four distinct compounds that serve as potential biomarkers for the condition.
- An artificial intelligence olfactory system was trained with this data, achieving 94 per cent accuracy in categorising samples from individuals with and without Parkinson's.
- This AI-powered system could serve as an inexpensive, first-line screening tool for Parkinson's, though further multi-centre research is needed.
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