Objective: We aimed to isolate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in cerumen and sebum samples from participants with Parkinson disease (PD), PD-mimic syndromes, Idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (iRBD), and healthy controls, and assess whether these isolated VOCs could be used to segregate participants based on underlying diagnosis.
Background: The worldwide prevalence and incidence of PD are rising, yet diagnostic investigations remain scarce. Clinical diagnosis of PD is approximately 80% accurate at first assessment but increases to >97% when assessed by a movement disorders subspecialist after 5 years of disease duration. Detection of signature VOCs, metabolic products in biofluids reflecting the body’s health status, may aid disease differentiation. Easily accessible biofluids such as cerumen and sebum are showing promise for PD detection.
Method: Cerumen and sebum samples were collected through the Saskatchewan Movement Disorders Program from participants with clinical diagnoses of PD or PD-mimic syndromes of >5-years duration. Samples were also collected from participants with polysomnography-confirmed iRBD and healthy controls. PD-mimic syndromes include Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple System Atrophy, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Corticobasal Syndrome, and Essential Tremor. Clinical and demographic data were collected (n=183); 5.5% underwent brain autopsy. Biofluid samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. VOCs identified as potential disease biomarkers were searched against the Metabolika Pathways database and NIST23 library to assess disease segregation.
Results: Early analysis yields seven VOCs of interest which demonstrate segregation of PD from PD-mimic syndromes and healthy controls (p<0.0001). Current findings also show larger segregation in males and in sebum samples.
Conclusion: Preliminary findings support further exploration of sebum and cerumen analysis as potential biomarkers for PD diagnosis. Further subject recruitment, repeat analysis of VOCs over time, and multivariate analysis with clinical and demographic data will provide further insights into the utility of these biofluids as biomarkers. This may help develop non-invasive diagnostic tools in PD and related disorders.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
A. Dixon, L. Sun, P. Jones, B. Daud Shah, A. Rajput, H. Zhang, E. Noyes. Volatile Organic Compound Signatures Differentiate Parkinson Disease from Parkinson Disease Mimic Syndromes and Controls [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/volatile-organic-compound-signatures-differentiate-parkinson-disease-from-parkinson-disease-mimic-syndromes-and-controls/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/volatile-organic-compound-signatures-differentiate-parkinson-disease-from-parkinson-disease-mimic-syndromes-and-controls/