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Future of Medicine: Sniffing Out Sickness
1 Nov
Summary
- Nurses use smell to detect infections and disease.
- New tests aim to diagnose diseases from breath and urine.
- AI and machine learning advance volatile compound disease detection.
Historically, the sense of smell has been recognized for its diagnostic potential, dating back to Hippocrates. Today, this ancient wisdom is being revitalized with modern technology. Nurses in a Norwegian cancer ward, for instance, reported using their sense of smell to identify distinct medical conditions like infections and even digestive bleeding.
Researchers are now harnessing advancements in molecular detection and machine learning to create non-invasive diagnostic tests. These tests analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from breath, urine, or sebum. For example, a company named TOBY is developing an AI-powered urine test for bladder cancer, slated for commercial launch approximately one year from now, and is also working on a similar test for Alzheimer's.
Sebum analysis shows promise for Parkinson's disease detection. A study found that over 84% of individuals with Parkinson's exhibited a distinct signature in their sebum molecules. This research also suggests potential for early detection in individuals with REM sleep behavior disorder, a condition linked to future neurodegenerative diseases.
Further research is exploring breath-based signatures for infections like the flu and common cold, with potential to differentiate between bacterial and viral infections. Such advancements could transform critical care by enabling continuous monitoring of patients in ICUs, aiding in early detection of conditions like sepsis.
