The woman who can smell Parkinson's disease

[LadyT'Anna]

Per the BBC:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-34583642

Is there hope for earlier detection and treatment?

 

[tharpdevenport]

When I saw the linked headline on the Drudge Report a few days ago, it reminded me of a story that I had to look back up:

Oscar, the death cat. The Rhode Island nursing home ten year-old cat that as of 2015 has predicted 100 deaths.




I wonder what other stories there are like this.

 

[LadyT'Anna]

When I saw the linked headline on the Drudge Report a few days ago, it reminded me of a story that I had to look back up:

Oscar, the death cat. The Rhode Island nursing home ten year-old cat that as of 2015 has predicted 100 deaths.

That's interesting, but I can't say it's entirely surprising. For one thing, animals have markedly more attuned senses of smell than people do. For another thing, the death rate among nursing home patients is vastly higher than the corresponding death rate of the population at large. I wonder whether a similar study has been performed using other cats in nursing homes. I also wonder whether the Rhode Island cat predicted deaths so well among the general populace.

I wonder what other stories there are like this.

I wonder with you; I've heard a few uncanny things in my time.