Some People's Sense of Smell Can Detect Disease
In Some People's Sense of Smell Can Detect Disease, learn how Joy, a woman with a unique sense of smell, is helping doctors understand the early detection of disease. By detecting a specific smell that is associated with Parkinson’s, Joy is contributing to groundbreaking research that could help improve diagnosis and treatment. Learn how the sense of smell can play a crucial role in detecting diseases before other symptoms appear. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
Lesson Express
Q: How does Joy's ability to smell Parkinson’s disease before symptoms appear change the way we think about diagnosing illnesses?
A: Joy’s ability to detect Parkinson’s disease through smell suggests that there may be other ways to diagnose diseases earlier, before symptoms are noticeable. This challenges the current methods, which usually rely on visible signs or symptoms, and could lead to faster treatment options.
Q: What do you think the musky and woody smell described by Joy tells us about the changes happening in a person with Parkinson’s disease?
A: The musky and woody smell could be caused by changes in the chemicals or oils produced by the skin of someone with Parkinson’s. This change might be linked to the disease itself and could offer a clue for understanding the physical effects Parkinson’s has on the body.
Q: How could the discovery that Parkinson’s disease can be detected by smell help doctors and patients in the future?
A: This discovery could help doctors diagnose Parkinson’s disease much earlier than they currently can, which could lead to earlier treatment and better care for patients. It also opens the door for developing new ways to detect other diseases through scent or other senses.