We live in an era where finding answers quickly is highly valued. But is faster always better?
Take, for instance, Joy Milne, a Scottish woman with an extraordinary and bizarre ability: she can smell Parkinson’s disease on people.
As with many groundbreaking discoveries, this one happened by accident. One day, Joy noticed a new musky odor on her husband, Les. Years later, when he received a Parkinson’s diagnosis, she connected the dots. Unfortunately, Les passed away in 2015, but Joy’s unique sense of smell led to a significant breakthrough: a skin-swab test that might just reveal Parkinson’s early on.
Such detection is particularly important for Parkinson’s, because massive damage typically has occurred before symptoms (such as tremor, slowed movements, rigid muscles and impaired posture/balance) reveal themselves. You can hear more about Joy’s story on a recent podcast here.
From a medical standpoint, this is groundbreaking. A simple test that could predict Parkinson’s? That’s the kind of thing doctors dream about. But what’s good for medicine isn’t always good for the soul.
Imagine learning today that you’re destined to lose your mind to Alzheimer’s in 20 years. Sure, there are some benefits. You could start planning your exit strategy, tie up loose ends and perhaps even sign up for experimental treatments or clinical trials.
But here’s the downside: What happens when knowing your future becomes a burden? You might spend your days dreading what’s to come rather than enjoying the present. Every forgetful moment could trigger anxiety, and every misstep could feel like a sign of the inevitable. You might start living under the shadow of a disease that hasn’t even manifested yet — a life dominated by fear rather than joy.
All things considered, maybe not knowing is the better option.
My advice: Live your life, make the most of it and don’t let some far-off diagnosis dictate how you spend your days. And just to be safe, maybe stay clear of Joy Milne.
John O’Connor is editorial director for McKnight’s Senior Living and its sister media brands, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, which focuses on skilled nursing, and McKnight’s Home Care. Read more of his columns here.
