Overview

• The AI-powered olfactory system analyzes ear canal secretions to distinguish Parkinson’s disease from healthy samples with 94% accuracy.
• Researchers pinpointed four volatile organic compounds—ethylbenzene, 4-ethyltoluene, pentanal and 2-pentadecyl-1,3-dioxolane—as potential Parkinson’s biomarkers.
• The study used gas chromatography–mass spectrometry on earwax swabs from 209 participants to map disease-specific chemical profiles.
• Earwax-based sampling offers a stable, noninvasive medium that reduces environmental contamination compared with skin sebum.
• Plans call for further research across different Parkinson’s stages in multiple centers and among varied ethnic groups to confirm applicability.