T Shirt Test For Parkinson's
Scientists in Manchester have begun research into whether a person's odour can be used to diagnose Parkinson's.
Researchers from the University of Manchester say a supersmeller'' detected the disease by sniffing T-shirts they had slept in.
She could even detect subtle changes in smell in people who had not yet developed the condition.
Parkinson's, a disease of the central nervous system, causes progressive tremors, stiffness and slowness of movement. Currently there is no cure.
Sufferers include comedian Billy Connolly and the Back To The Future actor Michael J Fox.
Parkinson's UK, which is funding the research, hope to find a link which could lead to earlier diagnosis. The charity estimates there are around 127,000 people with the disease in the UK.
Dr Arthur Roach, director of research at the charity, said: Funding pioneering studies like this has the potential to throw Parkinson's into a completely new light.
It's very early days in the research, but if it's proved there is a unique odour associated with Parkinson's, particularly early on in the condition, it could have a huge impact.
Professor Perdita Barran of the University of Manchester will lead a team trying to identify differences in chemicals present on the skin surface of people with Parkinson's.