Latest news with #earwax
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
The strange sign in your EARWAX that can predict if you'll develop devastating brain disorder
Eliza Loukou, Health Reporter Published: Invalid Date, YOUR earwax could be used to predict whether you'll develop Parkinson's, scientists say, About 153,000 people in the UK live with the devastating neurological disorder, caused by a loss of nerve cells in the brain. The progressive disease is characterised by symptoms such as tremors, slow movement and muscle stiffness, which slowly get worse. According to researchers Zhejiang University in China, most Parkinson's treatments only slow the disease's progression, so early diagnosis is important for managing symptoms. But current tests for spotting the disease - such as brain scans or rating scales - can be expensive or subjective, they said. Now, a study published to Analytical Chemistry suggests that earwax could be used as a cost effective way to screen people for Parkinson's. Researchers claimed they'd developed a new AI system that could help catch the disease at an early stage, using earwax samples. Previous studies have shown that changes in sebum - an oily substance secreted by the skin - could help identify people with Parkinson's. Sebum from people with the disease may have a characteristic, musky smell because volatile organic compounds released by sebum are altered by disease progression. But sebum on the surface of the skin isn't a reliable substance for testing as it's exposed to pollution or humidity, which can change its composition. However, sebum in ear canals is sheltered from the elements. Seeing as the oily substance is the main component of earwax and it's easy to sample, researchers decided to use it for their screening tool. Good Morning Britain star reveals Parkinson's diagnosis after tragic death of his wife To identify the compounds released by sebum in people with Parkinson's, the researchers swabbed the ear canals of 209 participants, more than half of which were diagnosed with the condition. They then analysed wax samples, identifying four volatile organic compounds specific to people with Parkinson's. Those include ethylbenzene, 4-ethyltoluene, pentanal, and 2-pentadecyl-1,3-dioxolane. Researchers said these could serve as potential biomarkers for Parkinson's. Using these findings, they were able to develop a system that inexpensively screens for Parkinson's. Everything you need to know about Parkinson's Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition, meaning that it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time. It affects around 153,000 people in the UK. People with Parkinson's don't have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the nerve cells that make it have stopped working. This can cause a range of more than 40 symptoms, but the three main ones are: Tremor (shaking) Slow movement Rigidity (muscle stiffness) Other common signs include: Mild memory and thinking problems Trouble sleeping Issues with balance Pain Anxiety and depression Shuffling walk with very small steps Difficulty making facial expressions Loss of sense of smell Problems peeing Constipation The four main ways of managing Parkinson's include medication, staying active, exploring occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech and language therapy, and monitoring symptoms. They trained an artificial intelligence olfactory system - a robotic model that can mimic how we smell - with their ear wax compound data. They found it was able to categorise samples with and without Parkinson's with 94 percent accuracy. Researchers suggested their system could be used to a first-line screening tool for early Parkinson's detection and could help improve care for condition by making it possible to administer treatments earlier. Author Hao Dong said: 'This method is a small-scale single-center experiment in China." 2 'The next step is to conduct further research at different stages of the disease, in multiple research centres and among multiple ethnic groups, in order to determine whether this method has greater practical application value.' Earlier this year, scientists warned of a surge in cases of Parkinson's. They said 25 million people across the world will be living with the debilitating brain condition by 2050.
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Strange sign in earwax may predict if you'll get brain disorder that affects 10million
That gross, waxy stuff in your ears could actually say a lot about your health. Researchers in China have identified key differences in the makeup of earwax in people with Parkinson's disease compared to people without the condition, suggesting the sticky stuff holds secrets that could flag a person's risk of eventually developing the condition. Scientists at Zhejiang University took earwax samples from 100 people with Parkinson's and 79 without. They chose earwax because much of it is made up of sebum, an oily substance that undergoes chemical changes in cases of Parkinson's, and releases distinct volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Parkinson's triggers neurodegeneration, inflammation, and oxidative stress, altering sebum's composition and creating a distinct odor. It also progressively damages the brain, causing tremors, stiffness, and slow movement. Over time, symptoms worsen to include sudden freezing, speech loss, swallowing problems — often leading to pneumonia — and falls, both common causes of death among people with Parkinson's. Four specific types of VOCs stood out among people with the condition, suggesting that earwax could potentially be an accessible indicator of Parkinson's, which would allow patients to avoid invasive diagnostic tests and spinal taps. Around 1million Americans and 10million people globally currently have the disease, with nearly 90,000 new cases diagnosed each year. As that number is projected to climb, early diagnosis is more important than ever. While there is no cure, medication regimens can be started early to treat symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. Researchers fed the VOC data from the samples of earwax into an algorithm that categorized subjects' Parkinson's status accurately 94 percent of the time, demonstrating the potential for a fast, reliable diagnostic tool. The VOCs that stood out to researchers were all significant in differentiating between people with the condition and those without it, even after accounting for age and lifestyle factors. Two of the VOCS, Ethylbenzene & 4-Ethyltoluene, are compounds commonly found in plastics and petroleum products. Their presence suggests inflammation in the brain, which is a key driver of the breakdown of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine, while often thought of as a 'feel good' neurotransmitter, is a key chemical messenger that regulates movement control. As dopamine levels plummet while Parkinson's progresses, people become steadily more immobile. Another significant VOC was Pentanal, which is produced when fats break down. Elevated levels suggest cell damage, a hallmark of Parkinson's. The compound has been linked to an accumulation of protein clumps in patients' brains. And the VOC 2-Pentadecyl-1,3-dioxolane likely reflects issues with the metabolism of fats, which could have originated from microbiome changes in the skin of patients. It's unclear whether this VOC has any direct links to PD, but there is an expanding body of research pointing to a connection between PD and an imbalance in the gut microbiome. Research suggests that VOCs are produced by the balance of good bacteria in the gut, which have also been associated with brain health. An imbalance that allows harmful bacteria to flourish, leading to a proliferation of toxins that can cause inflammation in the brain. VOCs come from a wide array of toxic sources in the environment, from pesticides used to grow food, industrial chemicals in gasoline, and solvents in everyday items like dry cleaning chemicals and adhesives, to cleaning products, car emissions, and contaminated groundwater. Parkinson's is believed to be caused by a confluence of genetic and environmental factors. It is the world's fastest-growing brain disorder, and, according to NIH research, 'exposure to environmental toxicants is the principal reason.' In the US, deaths from Parkinson's disease have more than doubled in the past 20 years, with about 35,000 deaths in 2019 compared to 14,500 in 1999. Parkinson's death rates rose from 42 to 65 deaths per 100,000 from 1999–2017 While considering the clues that earwax can provide about Parkinson's development is new, investigating the role that VOCs play is not. A sweeping 2023 meta-analysis identified distinct VOCs present in the breath and skin oil in people with the disease compared to those without it. These compounds are specifically linked with oxidative stress, or a barrage of damage that cells endure before dying. Dr Hao Dong, a co-researcher on the recent study, said: 'This method is a small-scale single-center experiment in China. 'The next step is to conduct further research at different stages of the disease, in multiple research centers and among multiple ethnic groups, in order to determine whether this method has greater practical application value.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How your ear wax could tell you if you have Parkinson's disease, according to experts
Could your ear wax tell you if you have Parkinson's disease? Some 90,000 people are diagnosed with the degenerative neurological condition in the U.S. each year, and annual deaths have surged in recent decades to tens of thousands. Now, researchers at the American Chemical Society claim they have developed a new system that could help catch the disease at an early stage. The identifier is in the odor of ear wax's main ingredient, known as sebum. The oily substance is produced by the body to lubricate and protect the skin. Sebum from people with Parkinson's may have a characteristic and musky smell because the volatile organic compounds released by sebum are altered by disease progression. This association has been identified in previous research. To identify the compounds released by sebum in people with the disease, the researchers swabbed the ear canals of 209 participants, more than half of which were diagnosed with the condition. Then, they analyzed what was collected using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. Four of the volatile organic compounds they found in people with Parkinson's were different than people without it. Those include ethylbenzene, 4-ethyltoluene, pentanal, and 2-pentadecyl-1,3-dioxolane. The researchers said they are potential biomarkers for Parkinson's. Using these findings, published this week in the journal Analytical Chemistry, they were able to develop a system that inexpensively screens for Parkinson's. They trained an artificial intelligence olfactory system - a robotic model that can mimic how we smell - with their ear wax compound data. Using the model, they found it was able to categorize samples with and without Parkinson's with 94 percent accuracy. Some 1.1 million Americans are living with Parkinson's right now. Because most treatments for Parkinson's only slow the progression of disease, catching it early is critical. Current testing is also costly, and can be subjective. This AI system, the researchers say, could be used as a first-line screening tool for early detection. 'This method is a small-scale single-center experiment in China,' explained author Hao Dong. 'The next step is to conduct further research at different stages of the disease, in multiple research centers and among multiple ethnic groups, in order to determine whether this method has greater practical application value.'
Health Line
3 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
Using Hydrogen Peroxide to Remove Earwax
Ear drops with hydrogen peroxide may be a safe, cost-effective, and easy-to-use treatment to help remove earwax buildup at home. Hydrogen peroxide is a common ingredient in liquid ear drops, known as cerumenolytics. These are typically the first methods used to help treat an ear impaction, which may be caused by excess earwax. They may also be used to soften earwax before other treatments. Ear wax, or cerumen, is a natural substance that helps protect your ear canal from water, infection, and irritants. However, nearly 6% of people in the United States have cerumen impaction, which may cause: Seeking prompt medical attention If you experience any of the following symptoms, see a medical professional promptly because these are not symptoms of a wax impaction but could be a sign of a more serious cause: acute pain leaking of liquids bleeding in your ear Treating an ear wax impaction Over-the-counter (OTC) cerumenolytic solutions typically contain 3% hydrogen peroxide. They release oxygen to soften, break up, or dissolve your earwax. Carbamide peroxide is a commonly prescribed ear drop. Ear drop treatment Here's a general approach to using hydrogen peroxide ear drops: Lie on your side with the affected ear facing the ceiling. Administer the instructed number of drops into your ear canal. It's common to hear a crinkling, fizzling, or bubbling sound when the liquid solution enters your ear canal. Keep still for 5 minutes or as long as the ear drops' guidelines state. Sit up and lean over a sink to allow any liquid to leak out or use a tissue to blot the outer ear. Repeat this process for your other ear if necessary. The treatment amount, frequency, and duration may vary depending on the brand and solution type. For example, you may need to administer your drops more than once per day over several days. Always read the ear drop application guidelines. Risks of using hydrogen peroxide ear drops Speak with a doctor before using hydrogen peroxide ear drops, especially if you've had, or currently have, a ruptured ear drum, infection, or tympanostomy tubes. In some cases, cerumenolytic solutions may cause: ear canal infection ear canal irritation, itchiness, or pain contact dermatitis Alternative treatments for earwax impaction If hydrogen peroxide ear drops aren't doing the trick for you, speak with a doctor to discuss safe alternative earwax removal methods, such as: irrigation microsuction manual removal, such as with a pic, curette, or alligator forceps oil- or water-based ear drops home remedies It's important never to put objects cotton swabs and ear candles in your ears. Despite popular belief, these may push the earwax further into your ear and cause serious complications. Frequently asked questions about hydrogen peroxide for earwax Does hydrogen peroxide really dissolve ear wax? Hydrogen peroxide eardrops can help soften earwax. They release oxygen to soften, break up, or dissolve your earwax. They may be available over-the-counter or in a stronger prescription form. Hydrogen peroxide eardrops can help soften earwax. They release oxygen to soften, break up, or dissolve your earwax. They may be available over-the-counter or in a stronger prescription form. How long should you leave hydrogen peroxide in your ear for it to be effective? Lie on your side with the affected ear facing up. Stay in this position for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the hydrogen peroxide to penetrate and soften the earwax. Afterward, tilt your head to allow the excess solution to drain onto a tissue or cotton ball. Lie on your side with the affected ear facing up. Stay in this position for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the hydrogen peroxide to penetrate and soften the earwax. Afterward, tilt your head to allow the excess solution to drain onto a tissue or cotton ball. Is it safe to put hydrogen peroxide in your ear? Hydrogen peroxide eardrops are generally safe to use. Do not use hydrogen peroxide if you have an ear infection, a perforated eardrum, or tympanostomy tubes in your ear. Hydrogen peroxide eardrops are generally safe to use. Do not use hydrogen peroxide if you have an ear infection, a perforated eardrum, or tympanostomy tubes in your ear.
