A groundbreaking study conducted by the UK Dementia Research Institute team at Cardiff University suggests that smartwatches may have the potential to diagnose Parkinson’s disease up to seven years before the onset of symptoms. By utilizing artificial intelligence and analyzing data from over 100,000 smartwatch wearers, researchers were able to predict individuals who would develop Parkinson’s based on their speed of movement tracked over a single week between 2013 and 2016. The findings raise the possibility of using smartwatches as a screening tool for early detection.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the gradual deterioration of brain cells over time. Common symptoms include involuntary shaking or tremors, slow movement, and stiff and inflexible muscles. Unfortunately, by the time a diagnosis is made, irreversible damage to brain cells has often occurred. The potential of smartwatches to identify early-stage Parkinson’s could be significant, particularly since approximately 30% of the UK population wears these devices, according to study leader Dr. Cynthia Sandor.
