A Nose For It

Manchester University is conducting a trial to see if specially trained dogs might be able to pick up specific scents to detect Parkinson’s disease.

The study, which is partfunded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, could mean early detection of the disease, for which there is currently no definitive test.

Parkinson’s symptoms typically only start to show once more than half of the relevant nerve cells in the brain have already been lost, but early detection could allow those affected to get a good start on treatment which can slow the progression of the disease.

Find out more about the medical detection dogs at www.medicaldetectiondogs. org.uk.