Smell loss is more than a nuisance — it can be an early signal of Parkinson’s–related changes in the brain.
That’s why the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is inviting anyone aged 40 or older in the United States or Canada, who does not have Parkinson’s, to take a free scratch-and-sniff screening at mysmelltest.org.
How the scratch-and-sniff test works
- Request a kit – Answer a few eligibility questions on the website.
- Receive it by mail – A postcard with tiny scent panels arrives at your door.
- Record your answers online – Scratch each panel, choose the matching odor on the web form, and submit.
The whole process takes about 15 minutes. Your results may qualify you for follow-up brain-health studies through MJFF’s Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI).
Why scent matters to brain health
- Hyposmia (long-lasting loss of smell) precedes motor symptoms in most cases of Parkinson’s. Researchers have found that more than 95 percent of people with Parkinson’s show measurable smell deficits, often years before a diagnosis (see the review in Movement Disorders via PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3109349/).
- A leading theory holds that misfolded alpha-synuclein protein collects first in the olfactory bulb before spreading deeper into the brain.
In 2023, MJFF-funded scientists used a lab technique called the α-synuclein seeding amplification assay (αSyn-SAA) to detect these misfolded proteins in spinal fluid with roughly 90 percent accuracy, even in people who had smell loss but no clinical diagnosis (MJFF news release | WIRED story: https://www.wired.com/story/a-key-to-detecting-brain-disease-earlier-than-ever). Pairing the simple scent test with this assay is sharpening scientists’ view of who is most at risk — a vital step toward preventive therapies.
What your results do and don’t mean
- A reduced sense of smell does not automatically predict Parkinson’s. Allergies, sinus trouble, head injuries, COVID-19, and normal aging can all blunt the nose.
- The scratch-and-sniff card is a research tool, not a diagnosis. If you notice persistent smell loss, discuss it with a qualified medical professional. MJFF does not endorse specific treatments, and individual care decisions should always involve your physician.
The bottom line
Fifteen minutes with a postage-paid card today can generate data that speeds tomorrow’s breakthroughs in brain-health science. If you’re 40 or older and curious about your own risk — or simply want to help researchers get ahead of Parkinson’s — request your free kit at mysmelltest.org and let your nose lend a hand.
