This nurse can smell Parkinson’s disease | Joy Milne | TEDxManchester 

I was diagnosed with PD 2.5 years ago, at the age of 67. I had been unwittingly symptomatic for 2-3 years before that. One of my early symptoms was dermatitis, which at the time I thought was due to sun exposure. I live in a high UV zone; Nelson, New Zealand . I had greasy, sometimes flaky, skin around my upper face, especially my forehead, temples, under my eyes and near my nose. I also had a greasy scalp, neck, chest and shoulders. Over the last year or two this greasiness appears to have accelerated. Over the last few months I have become increasingly stinky, which I have attributed to my sebum. My first thought was that the smell was reminiscent of charred cotton rags, but I now realise that the yeasty/musty description is pretty close. Every 12 months I am examined and treated by my dermatologist for skin lesions, usually solar keratoses and the occasional basal cell carcinoma and/or squamous cell carcinoma. Last year I brought to his attention my greasy face and scalp. He appeared to be baffled as to why I even mentioned it. I am due for my next examination in a few weeks. I have been taking great care to avoid direct UV exposure and I think he’ll be pleased with the result - very little to find. I will raise again the issue of my oily skin, and the stink which, to me, appears almost overpowering. While I have had the usual tremors, clenching toes, stiff/sore back in particular, and bradykinesia, I have been able to continue with my usual activities of mountain hiking, trail running, cycling, table tennis and pickleball. I have even managed to raise the bar, averaging about 25 hours a week of physical activities. I engage in a number of exercises/stretches/therapies to address my symptoms, and have had quite a bit of success. I no longer suffer from a stiff and sore back, afternoon fatigue, or apathy, and I am more motivated. I have always had a positive attitude towards my Parkinson’s, and did not allow it to get me down.

I could smell my friends pancreatic cancer two years before she was diagnosed. The next time I smelled that same smell it turned out to be prostate cancer about a year before his diagnosis. Both of those times I never said anything because I wasn’t sure how to tell people they may be I’ll and to go see a doctor. My husband is always freaked out when I can smell he has a cold coming on. Like you, I smelled everything as a child. To the point my mother didn’t ever want to take me places because I would pick up all sorts of things to smell them, even tinned goods in a grocery store.

My hope is that the ability to diagnosis through the use of smell by people and animals becomes mainstream!

Yes, I learned of using my sense of smell for diagnosis in 2012, early in my education journey towards becoming a nurse. I successfully diagnosed a patient with C-Diff that way, from her stool. Dogs have been trained to detect cancer. I believe they can be trained to detect any disease under the sun. I hope this woman is successful in her quest.

I was terrified having a selfie taken with her 😂 Amazing personality!

I cried through most of this. So many levels of feelings. I'd already read more details of this courageous Woman's journey. While I certainly do not have this sofisticated of nose . . I have been smelling and sorting and politely not sharing acute differences and likely dis-ease in otheres most of my life. I'm now 70 and realized a few years back that I had developed an exact, same and unique musk that my Mother exhibited at around my age. I cared for her through the end of her life some 15 years later. The journey was not good. There are no accidents. I've no idea HOW to identify or WHO to even attempt to tell. Conservative medicine ignores all this. What this talk does give me is hope that one day folks will be respected, supported and maybe even able to receive compationate care rather then Medical labels, invasive, painful and often expensive procedures or Pharmacitical perscriptions. Who nose? (pun intended)

What a devoted and professional person she is! A really admirable woman!❤

I think this TedTalk title could be renamed because this woman is much much more to the world of medicine besides "nurse." Her nose has led to a complete breakthrough in prediagnosing Parkinson's! She's a miraculous gift to the world.

I could smell my Father (he had Parkinson's, but also oesophageal cancer). It was a sickly, sour /sweet smell and I had no idea that no one else could smell it. It wasn't until I met a friend of my partners, who was telling my partner that he hadn't been well and was getting some tests. He had the exact same strong smell that my Father had. When we walked away, I said he's got cancer, which shocked my partner. A month later, he died. The cancer was all through him.

This is incredibly amazing! She is changing the world. I wonder how many other people in the world may have this or other amazing capabilities. Thank you for this video. It gives people hope.

I can smell GI bleeds, upper and lower, before they really get going. I worked in endoscopy for many years and it came in handy

This nurse has opened the door to a number of great possibilities. One commentator here stated that our sense of smell is also evolving. A real possibility!

Such admiration for Joy's dedication and passion for using her gift for good in the world for Parkinson's and beyond.

What a remarkable gift to humanity ❤

So i just got confirmed that i can smell Parkinsons as well. I am the only one in Denmark so far. The doctors were amazed, and so were i.

I can smell SARS-COVID and many other diseases including diabetes. I always wondered why others could not. My family are also super tasters and tell you every ingredient used in a particular food.

This is amazing!!!! Thank you for staying open sweet Soul you are changing the way medicine can look at and use our incredible bodies for our own healing!!! Keep going!!!! Gratitude love & light to you and your sweet husband ❤🙏🏼✨

This was an incredible story that Mrs. Milne told. I want to personally show my gratitude for the work that she has done one the research of Parkinson’s and the impact that this disease has had on her own personal life. I think it’s remarkable that someone would be able to detect the change of a person’s odor as they start to develop Parkinson’s. It would take even more courage in this age to speak up and tell someone that you have an ability to detect Parkinson’s in people. I feel like most people would think you’ve gone crazy or would think you are some kind of a fraud. To be able to not only stand up for yourself, but to go on and have a research study conducted to prove it is remarkable. With the study that was conducted, although the sample size was small, I think the results of the study were significant to show that there is some kind of smell change associated with Parkinson’s. I’m glad that this was enough to push for a “Nose to Diagnose” so that more research could be conducted on the specific biomarkers for Parkinson’s. I do think that another limitation of the study was that it was only conducted with male participants. I would like to see more research on if the same smell changes are associated with female patients with Parkinson’s. I think that based on the results of this research, a screening test for Parkinson’s could be held earlier on for anyone who wants it. If there is a specific change in odor, being able to identify this change and then respectfully trying to prevent Parkinson’s progression could impact a lot of peoples’ lives. If we could start treating Parkinson’s earlier, then people could potentially live longer without the devastating body impacts that this disease has. In keeping with the medical law of justice, we could then give people the option to choose if they wanted to get screened or not for Parkinson’s.

Wow this is unbelievable what an amazing woman !!

What a wonderful Lady. God Bless you.

Thankyou for the work you’ve done, and for your help in Tanzania. I lived there for four years teaching for VSO. So many with endémica diseases. Many thanks

Wonderful lady, with a great mind, too! ❤ ❤

Nobody notices her name is Nurse Joy?

Protect her at all costs! Lovely woman 😁

She's amazing!

I have hyperosmia . People think I’m joking when I say I tell them the things I smell. I do know the smell of Parkinson’s as my ex has it. I remember the first time I smelled it but of course I didn’t know what it was. I feel I have a superpower. I wish I could help with this research . My “kryptonite” of course is protein farts.

It is true after many years working as a nurse that sense of smell can detect certain bacteria. Especially wound care nurses

I am stunned.... I also have this. I was a hairdresser for many years, I learned I can smell thyroid disease. Where can I find out about the research? Anyone??? My husband recently has a weird smell. He smells like crayons and I am nervous about what it means. Is there a community somewhere??

Bravo Every disease,syndrome has a specific smell

Yes that is a real thing. My mom has Parkinsons and I can smell it too (mostly in her neck).

Absolutely the best ted talk I have seen !!! More should see it ! X

I’ve put so much stuff up my nose on the weekends I can barely smell cologne from the spray bottle … this lady’s story was awesome in the sense she helped the world with her super power

Amazing woman ❤❤❤

Thank you!!!

I get headaches when it’s about to rain

I can smell tonsillitis on my kids and chest infections. I can smell it on their breath

You are amazing.

Perfect timing for me. Thank you for your post X

I went to a meeting about and for people with Parkinson’s and I noticed that room smelled and everyone with Parkinson’s smelled alike

I’m certain our senses are evolving. I could smell it before my GRANDMOTHER passed away. If I knew what it was I may have tried to defend her cause. Just a kid.

Can you smell other conditions? Wonderful.

Amazing.❤

I have the amazing talent to know when I stink and need a shower, I'm amazed a lot of people don't have this

Thank you so much! Yes we can heal ourselves!❤

I can smell colds, pneumonia and a few other illnesses that I don´t know yet what they are. If there is any way I can help science I would.

I work at a clinic for Physiotherapy and I can smell Parkinson too… At first I thought it was just my brain messing with me, but now I recognize that it’s just something I can….

Why isn't everybody getting those simple tests as a routine part of a checkup whether they show symptoms or not ?

Love your Granny

Brilliant, simply the most brilliant discussion of something so mystical that I continue to shake my head ! The human mind, body, brain, nose (olfactory) is so incredible and still so unknown ? "We are Stardust, we are Golden" ! If only we could stop the "War Instinct" ? Humans ?

I can smell something odd on both my brother and father. It's two different scents, and it may not necessarily be disease, but I too am sensitive to body/breath/hair oil scents. There is a lot of information in scent that we've lost as we evolved. Fantastic gift and ted talk. Thank you for sharing your story. 👍❤️👌💪👏

Thank😍❤ you!Parkinson's diseases must to have treat and 🤍💞best care in family or who is diseases,...❤🖐🌏

Is there anything similar for either Multiple Sclerosis or Alzheimer's?

I have the same ability. It smells distinctly mousey especially I perspiration. I often smell things first. Electrical things I can also smell, many things!

Needed it

What does it mean if someone smell of strong vinegar.

❤❤❤❤

It is not possible to diagnose Parkinson's. That's kinda a running theme in mainstream medicine.

Wait she is 83?? This is honestly so crazy but it is all science backed literature.. They train dogs to smell certain cancers and fluctuations in blood sugar….

Hello. It would be nice if science could learn of your families abilities. What a different life you must live. Imagine if mankind could achieve this sensitivity.

just read NY Times article. Question: we are all born covered in vernix caseosa-which is essentially sebum. Could disease be present & detected as early as this by Ms. Milne? Is Ms Milne's astounding ability, by default, technically considered a disability by the medical establishment? as in the mechanical logic of why she has this ability would pathologically be considered a defect.?

Florence Nightingale.

Does anyone know what this smell is,it’s a musky almost medicinal smell ?

I can smell cancer which is disturbing

She should have got the James randi price!

Her story is a demonstration of evolution in action. Every generation, evolution tries a few tweaks. Most result in nothing, but the tweak that Joy Milne received gave her the ability to sense the odour of Parkinson's Disease. Possibly she is the only one on the planet that can detect the odour. Think of this in an animal perspective. Suppose there is getting to be a great shortage of food. Then an animal comes along that can detect this odour, which in its case is another source of food. So this animal can find the food and will probably successfully reproduce and the ability to detect this odour will be passed along to the offspring.

I can smell diabetic’s

I know l'm information

I can smell opiate and nicotine addiction.

Does this ability have a name

I like in 2019

Well, I can smell old people.

Just let my wife smells my clothes every single day when I am in home and finds out stranges smells

There is a little known result of integrating habits and creating routine. You come alive. Because you are steadfast in prioritizing self-care, you may find that anxiety and depression have less of a foothold. Because you streamline that which previously took effort, you regain time in your day. You have space to unfurl.

joy mine in durumuna üstün koku alma yeteneği denir, hiporesmi. fakat hiporesmi bir yetenekten çok, bir lanettir onunla yaşayanlar bilir. kendimde üstün koku alma özelliğine sahibim.bu bazen çekilmez olabiliyor.

Harness the hyperosmic power of pregnant women. First trimester? We’re like truffle hunting canines.

I have a spray that can detect every disease!

I can smell diabetes

مرحبا. ممكن حد يعطف علينا ويشترلينا تياب العيد لأهلي ولا الي يجبر بخاطركم في هي الأيام المباركة

💪👃💪

God loves you and takes care of you for the arrival of this message to you. God is the one who created this universe and He is the one who controls it. The biggest loss that a person loses in this life is to live while he does not know God and the Messenger of Muhammad, the last of the prophets and the Islamic religion, the last of the heavenly religions. From the great intelligence of any person before he He believes in something or does not believe in it, that he read it, study it, and understand it well, and then he has the choice and judgment on it. I advise you to do so before you do not have time for that.

Somethin' smells here & it ain't Parkinson's!

I tried really hard to listen to this but you make so much noise with your mouth when you talk that that it triggered the misophonia I suffer from. 😢

Bogus Talk and a wasted time , sad to say there is a lot of audiences and such is life !!