So many reasons to have a dog in your life. They’re good for your heart, for stress management and cognitive health, and they are just so darn joyful to see you even if you just nipped down to the corner store. And if that’s not enough, they can even help with early detection of Parkinson’s disease.
In a recent study, scientists at the University of Bristol trained two dogs to distinguish between sebum swabs (an oily substance produced by the skin) from individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease. In a double-blind trial, the dogs demonstrated up to 80% sensitivity (how well the dogs identified people who have the condition) and up to 98% specificity (how well the dogs identified people who do not have the condition). Even more remarkable, the dogs were able to identify Parkinson’s disease in people who had other unrelated conditions.
The ability to identify biomarkers of Parkinson’s Disease may allow for early diagnosis and treatment, and it is not the first time that dogs have been trained for such purposes, as prior research has indicated that dog’s heightened sense of smell can detect early risks of cancer, diabetes and seizures.
The lead author of the article is Nicola Rooney, an Associate Professor at Bristol Veterinary School, but we think credit should be fully shared with Bumper, a Golden Retriever, and Peanut, a Black Lab, both presumably of the greater Bristol area.
And don’t worry all you cat lovers out there (or bunny, or guinea pig, or perhaps even snake lovers)— it’s not just dogs that are good for your health. Owning any pet can help to decrease stress, improve heart health, and even help children with emotional and social skills. Plus, they’re just so darn sweet to have around.
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